Is Flood Insurance Included in Home Insurance?

The intricacies of home insurance can be complicated and confusing, but this should not discourage you from ensuring a comprehensive understanding of your policy. Recognizing possible coverage gaps and accounting for them accordingly is an essential task to ensure your home and financial interests remain protected from various incidents, such as floods.

Can My Home Insurance Cover Floods?

In most cases, no. Although floods are among the most common natural disasters affecting U.S. homeowners annually, they are typically excluded from standard home insurance policies. This means that, whether occurring due to heavy precipitation, broken dams and levees, or other circumstances, floodwater entering your property could mean extensive out-of-pocket losses.

What Can I Do?

Although standard home insurance does not usually include floods as covered incidents, there are ways you can augment your personal lines coverage portfolio to ensure financial protection. Separate flood insurance policies can be purchased through various means, including the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private insurers.

With appropriate flood insurance, you can retain access to financial assistance for various losses, including structural damage and lost or ruined possessions. NFIP policies are available in many communities throughout the nation and may offer broad coverage suitable to many homeowners’ needs. Alternatively, private options can often provide higher coverage limits and more personalized policies.

Who Needs Coverage?

All homeowners should prioritize having flood insurance, as these natural disasters can occur without warning. Even a single inch of water seeping into your home could destroy your belongings and home.

Furthermore, you may be subject to formal obligations. Consider the following scenarios, which may mandate flood insurance:

• If you live in a high-risk flood area and have a federally supported mortgage, you’ll need coverage until you’ve paid off your loan.

• If you’ve previously received Federal Emergency Management Agency aid following a flood, you must have coverage to remain eligible for future funds.

How to Get Flood Insurance Near Me

Contact Best Option Insurance and Tax in Houston, Texas, today to explore flood insurance options near you or to compare personalized quotes.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.