Personal Insurance
Flood Insurance — The Coverage Your Home Policy Doesn't Include
Flood is the most common and costly natural disaster in the US — and it's explicitly excluded from every standard homeowners policy. Whether you're in a high-risk zone or not, flood insurance deserves serious consideration.
Why Flood Requires a Separate Policy
Flooding is excluded from standard homeowners, renters, and condo policies — no exceptions. It doesn't matter if it's a hurricane, burst levee, or heavy rainfall. If the source is rising water from outside, your homeowners policy won't pay.
What counts as flood
A flood is a general and temporary condition where two or more acres or two or more properties are inundated with water — from overflow of inland waters, rapid rainfall accumulation, or mudflow.
Building Coverage
Covers the structure of your home — foundation, walls, floors, built-in appliances, HVAC, electrical and plumbing — against direct physical loss from flooding.
Contents Coverage
Covers personal belongings inside your home — furniture, electronics, clothing — up to the policy limit. Contents must be purchased separately from building coverage.
What flood does NOT cover
Standard flood policies do not cover temporary housing, business interruption losses, vehicles (use auto policy), or most basement contents and improvements.
30-Day Waiting Period
NFIP flood policies typically have a 30-day waiting period. Don't wait until a storm is approaching — it's too late to buy meaningful coverage at that point.
Flood insurance through NFIP and private carriers
We write flood through both the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private flood carriers — and help you determine which option makes sense for your property.
Do I need flood insurance?
- Required if you have a federally backed mortgage in a high-risk zone (SFHA)
- Strongly recommended in moderate-risk zones
- 23% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas
- Average flood claim exceeds $30,000
- One inch of water can cause $25,000+ in damage
NFIP vs. Private Flood Insurance
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Federally backed flood insurance administered through FEMA. Available to any property owner in a participating community.
- Up to $250,000 building / $100,000 contents
- Available in all FEMA-participating communities
- Satisfies mortgage lender requirements
- No additional living expenses coverage
- 30-day waiting period (standard)
Private Flood Insurance
Flood coverage written by private insurers — often with higher limits, broader coverage, and competitive pricing.
- Higher building and contents limits available
- May include additional living expenses
- Shorter waiting periods in many cases
- Often more competitive on pricing
- Availability varies by location and risk
Common Questions
-
No — flood is explicitly excluded from every standard homeowners, renters, and condo policy. If the source is water rising from the ground or overflowing waterways, you need a separate flood policy.
-
Flood zones describe relative risk, not absolute safety. About 23% of flood insurance claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. If you can't absorb a $30,000–$100,000+ loss out of pocket, flood insurance is worth considering regardless of your zone.
-
Cost varies significantly based on your flood zone, elevation, property value, and coverage limits. We'll get you quotes from both NFIP and private flood carriers to find the most competitive option.
-
An elevation certificate documents the elevation of your home relative to the Base Flood Elevation. If your home is elevated above the BFE, an elevation certificate can significantly reduce your NFIP premium.
-
NFIP policies cover structural elements in basements but not most personal belongings stored there. Private flood policies may offer broader basement coverage.
Don't wait for the storm warning to buy flood insurance.
Flood policies have waiting periods. Get covered now — before you need it.