Flood insurance
Flood insurance for your home and belongings
Most homeowners policies don't cover flood damage. Flood is a separate policy that can cover the building, your belongings, or both. We write federal flood policies and private flood insurance. Send us your address and we'll quote it.
What to know before you buy
Your homeowners policy leaves flood out
FEMA puts it plainly: most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Water that rises from outside, from a creek, a heavy storm or a storm surge, needs its own policy.
There's usually a 30-day wait
A National Flood Insurance Program policy typically takes 30 days to start. The wait doesn't apply when a government-backed lender requires the coverage for a loan, or when it's tied to a flood map change. Private flood policies also have a waiting period, and its length depends on the carrier and the state. Either way, buy it before you need it.
How much coverage you can get
Through the National Flood Insurance Program, a residential building can be insured for up to $250,000 and the belongings inside for up to $100,000. We also offer private flood insurance, which isn't held to those limits: we can write the dwelling and personal property amounts you need, including a home that would cost more than $250,000 to rebuild.
What a flood policy leaves out
The federal program doesn't cover property outside the building, such as trees, plants and wells. It doesn't cover cars, and it doesn't pay for temporary housing while your home is repaired.
You don't have to be in a high-risk zone
Anyone in one of the 22,600 communities that take part in the program can buy flood insurance, including renters. FEMA's own wording is that floods can happen anywhere. If you're in a high-risk area with a mortgage from a government-backed lender, flood insurance is required.
Sources: FEMA, Flood Insurance (fema.gov, updated January 2, 2026); FloodSmart, NFIP coverage for agents (agents.floodsmart.gov).
Questions
Common questions
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?
Most homeowners policies don't. Water that rises from outside, from a creek, heavy rain or a storm surge, needs a separate flood policy.
How long does it take for flood insurance to start?
A National Flood Insurance Program policy usually has a 30-day wait. It doesn't apply when a government-backed lender requires the coverage for a loan, or when the purchase is tied to a flood map change. Private flood policies also have a waiting period, and its length depends on the carrier and the state.
How much flood coverage can I get?
A federal flood policy covers up to $250,000 for a home's structure and up to $100,000 for the belongings inside. Private flood insurance, which we also offer, isn't held to those limits, so we can write the dwelling and personal property amounts you need.
Do I need flood insurance if I'm not in a high-risk flood zone?
It's not required, but floods happen outside high-risk zones too. Homeowners and renters in any of the 22,600 communities in the federal program can buy it. It's required in a high-risk area if your mortgage is from a government-backed lender.
Questions first? Call us.
We'll tell you whether it makes sense for you, and if it doesn't, we'll say so.