your home policy doesn’t cover this
Your home policy doesn’t cover flood. This does.
Flood is a separate policy, and in a lot of Florida it’s the one that matters most. I’ll look up your flood zone, price your options, and explain what you’d actually be covered for.
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The basics
Homeowners insurance leaves it out
Rising water from storm surge, heavy rain, or an overflowing lake or river isn’t covered by a homeowners policy. You need a flood policy for that.
There’s usually a 30-day wait
A policy through the National Flood Insurance Program usually takes 30 days to start. There are exceptions, like when you’re buying a home with a mortgage.
Your lender may require it
If the home is in a high-risk flood zone and you have a mortgage from a federally regulated lender, you’ll generally be required to carry flood insurance.
It’s not only for the coast
Flood zones go address by address. Plenty of flooding happens inland, from rain and low ground, in places where the policy is optional.
What a flood policy covers
Through the National Flood Insurance Program, a home can be covered for up to $250,000 on the building and up to $100,000 on your belongings. They’re two separate coverages, and you choose each one.
There are also private flood policies. They can offer higher limits or different terms, and whether one is available depends on the property. I check both and show you what I find.
One thing to know before switching: if you have a National Flood Insurance Program policy at a subsidized rate and you leave it for a private policy, you may be charged the full-risk rate if you ever come back. I go over that with you in writing before any change.
What I look at
- Your flood zone, based on your exact address.
- Whether the home is elevated, and by how much. An elevation certificate helps if you have one.
- The year the home was built and the type of foundation.
- What your lender requires, if you have a mortgage.
- How much coverage you want on the building and on your belongings.
Questions I get about flood
Do I need flood insurance if I’m not in a flood zone?
Every home is in some flood zone. The question is whether it’s a high-risk one. Outside high-risk zones it’s usually optional, and it often costs less there. I think it’s worth getting a price before you decide.
Can I buy flood insurance when a storm is coming?
Don’t count on it. With the usual 30-day wait on a National Flood Insurance Program policy, a policy bought the week of a storm won’t help with that storm.
What’s an elevation certificate?
It’s a document from a surveyor showing how high your home sits compared with the expected flood level. It isn’t always required, but it can change how a flood policy is priced.
Does flood insurance cover my belongings?
Only if you buy contents coverage. Building and contents are separate, and a lender usually only requires the building part.
What do you need for a flood quote?
The property address, the year it was built, the type of foundation, and an elevation certificate if you have one. If you have a mortgage, tell me what the lender is asking for.
Worth a read
- Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
- Why is my hurricane deductible so high?
- Buying a home in Florida: your insurance timeline
Official sources
Coverage, eligibility and pricing depend on the property and the company. This page is general information, not a quote.
Have a question? Just ask.
Call me or send a quote request. You’ll hear back from a real person.