Residential Flood Insurance

Residential flood insurance offers homeowners, whether they reside in a high-, moderate-, or low-risk flood area, protection against losses from flooding. Because flood damage usually is not covered under a typical property insurance policy, residential flood insurance is available from many insurance companies and is guaranteed by the NFIP.

The NFIP defines a flood, for residential flood insurance purposes, as a general and temporary condition, during which the surface of normally dry land is partially or completely inundated with water. Flooding can be caused by: an overflow of tidal or inland waters; a runoff, such as from rainfall; a mudslide or mudflows caused by flooding; or soil erosion exceeding normal levels, which causes collapse of land along a body of water.

Residential flood insurance policies offer two types of coverage: building and contents coverage; and contents coverage only. These policies allow for coverage of up to $250,000 for the structure and up to $100,000 for contents, or personal property, in the structure.

Protecting against the most common type of natural disaster – flooding – is important for any homeowner, whether he or she lives in a high, moderate, or low-risk flood area.