{"id":8576,"date":"2026-04-10T13:10:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T20:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.answerfinancial.com\/?p=8576"},"modified":"2026-04-10T14:07:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T21:07:12","slug":"what-is-flood-insurance-and-what-does-it-cover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.answerfinancial.com\/what-is-flood-insurance-and-what-does-it-cover\/","title":{"rendered":"What is flood insurance and what does it cover?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did you know that flooding is the most common type of natural disaster in the United States? Furthermore, flooding occurs in 90% of all U.S. natural disasters, leading to billions of dollars in damages every year.<sup>1&nbsp;<\/sup>You might be surprised to learn that flooding \u2013 although extremely common \u2013 is not typically covered by a standard home insurance policy. But don\u2019t worry, there are options available to cover your property from flooding, which typically requires you to purchase a separate&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.answerfinancial.com\/Flood-insurance?a=insurance-quote&amp;comingfrom=blog\">flood insurance<\/a>&nbsp;policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\nexactly is flood insurance?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flood insurance is usually purchased in addition to home insurance and can protect your property and its contents up to a certain amount, dependent upon the coverage limits of your policy. In many areas, you can purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Recently, some private insurers have begun offering this type of protection as well. Your insurance experts at Answer Financial always recommend comparing quotes and coverages to make sure you\u2019re getting the right protection for your situation and needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\nis covered by flood insurance?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When comparison shopping for flood insurance, it\u2019s smart to make sure you know what type of flooding is covered. Most flood insurance covers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>direct physical losses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>damages resulting from a flood or flood-related erosion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>damages from heavy or prolonged rain, snow melt, coastal storm surge, blocked storm drainage systems or levee dam failure, among others.<sup>1<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your insurer may also have some criteria about what is considered a \u201cflood.\u201d For example, if the flooded area was on less than two acres or didn\u2019t affect multiple properties, your insurer may not consider it to be a claim-worthy event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do\nI need flood insurance if I don\u2019t live in a flood zone?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some people assume they don\u2019t have a need for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.answerfinancial.com\/Flood-insurance?a=insurance-quote&amp;comingfrom=blog\">flood insurance<\/a>&nbsp;if they don\u2019t reside in a flood zone or near a river, but that may not always be the wisest decision. Flood awareness is important, especially if you live near:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>creeks\nor ponds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>an\narea that gets heavy snow<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>near\na steep hill with water runoff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>an\nurban or suburban neighborhood<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re in a geographic region like one of these, it\u2019s smart to consider purchasing an affordable flood insurance policy. For people living in developed areas packed with impervious surfaces like parking lots, roads and sidewalk, urban flooding (sometimes referred to as urban runoff) can be a risk. If an event like a hurricane were to happen, heavy rains could cause flooding from excessive runoff.<sup>2&nbsp;<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There may not always be a flood warning before one comes your way, so we recommend preparing for the worst, so your property is covered and protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Are\nthere differences between NFIP and private flood insurance?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One benefit of choosing a private insurer instead of the NFIP is the option to buy higher coverage levels, if needed or desired. If you\u2019re concerned the value of your home or its contents may exceed what a standard policy usually covers, private flood insurance could be a worthwhile option.<sup>3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most \u2013 if not all \u2013 NFIP policies do not take effect for the first 30 days after purchase. Private flood insurers may offer shorter waiting periods. If you have concerns about getting a policy in place quickly, private&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.answerfinancial.com\/insurance-center\/flood-insurance-86-of-homeowners-dont-have-it\/\">flood insurance<\/a>&nbsp;might be your best bet. You don\u2019t want to wait for a disaster to strike before getting your flood insurance in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\nshould I do before a storm to protect my property?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you live in\na region that\u2019s prone to flooding, being a homeowner could be a bit daunting.\nAlthough a natural disaster like a flood is often unavoidable, there are some\nactions you can take to protect some of your more valuable property. If you\nlive in a two-story home and know a flood is on the way, move your most\nexpensive furniture and items to the second story to avoid any water damage. <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also\npurchase sandbags to try and blockade water from entering your home. Stack them\nlike bricks along the exterior perimeter to create a flood water barrier. Lastly,\ndon\u2019t forget to create a flood safety kit so you have first-aid materials and\nother emergency items within arm\u2019s reach if disaster strikes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Photographing\nyour property and belongings can also be important if you ever need to file a\nflood insurance claim. The more documentation you can provide to your insurer,\nthe better. As your insurance experts, we recommend taking photos of your\nhome\u2019s foundation, the interior and exterior walls and the contents of your\nhome. It\u2019s important to prove the condition of your property before a flood\noccurs so your insurer is able to quickly and accurately assess any damages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who\nis Answer Financial?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Answer Financial is one of the largest personal lines insurance agencies in the U.S. and works with dozens of top-rated carriers to bring consumers like you the right fit for your auto, home, renters, flood, motorcycle and other insurance needs. We understand no two situations are alike, which is why customers consider us to be a smart choice when looking to compare, buy and save on insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.answerfinancial.com\/auto-insurance?a=INSURANCE_CENTER&amp;comingfrom=blog\">mobile-friendly website<\/a>, insurance shoppers can\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.answerfinancial.com\/Home-Insurance?a=INSURANCE_CENTER&amp;comingfrom=blog#\/\">quickly compare rates and customize coverages from multiple companies<\/a>. If you have any questions along the way, our insurance experts are standing by to provide over-the-phone guidance. Over the years, we\u2019ve helped more than 5 million people like you review their current policy and find affordable home insurance for their needs. Our customers report saving an average of $677 a year on insurance. * You can speak with us at 1-800-258-5101\u00a0 \u00a0to buy or change your coverage from top-rated insurance companies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that flooding is the most common type of natural disaster in the United States? Furthermore, flooding occurs in 90% of all U.S. natural disasters, leading to billions of dollars in damages every year.1&nbsp;You might be surprised to learn that flooding \u2013 although extremely common \u2013 is not typically covered by a standard&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":8577,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[422,423],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-auto","category-home"],"ic_custom":{"author_name":"AnswerFinancial","medium_thumbnail":"<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.answerfinancial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FB_1200x900_09_23-300x225.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Flood Insurance\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.answerfinancial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FB_1200x900_09_23-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.answerfinancial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FB_1200x900_09_23-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.answerfinancial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FB_1200x900_09_23-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.answerfinancial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FB_1200x900_09_23.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.answerfinancial.com\/author\/answerfinancial\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\r\n<title>What is flood insurance and what does it cover? | Answer Financial<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Damage caused by flooding is not usually covered by home insurance. 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