National Flood Insurance Program

5/16/2022 (Permalink)

The National Flood Insurance Program policy covers direct physical losses to your belongings and structures after a flood event. The NFIP has two types of coverage: your home itself and your belongings. Here are some examples of what IS covered by your flood insurance policy:

Building Coverage

• Electrical and Plumbing Systems
• Water heater and furnaces
• Refrigerators, stoves, ovens, built-in appliances like dishwashers
• Permanently installed fixtures, such as carpeting, cabinets, paneling, and bookcases
• Window blinds
• Foundation walls, anchorage systems, and staircases
• Detached garages
• Fuel tanks, pumps and well water tanks, and solar energy equipment

Content Coverage

• Personal belongings like clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment
• Curtains
• Washer and Dryer
• Portable and window air conditioners
• Microwave oven
• Carpets not included in building coverage like carpet installed over wood floors.
• Valuable items like original artwork and furs (up to $2,500)

What isn’t covered by flood insurance?

Flood insurance is determined by the cause of flooding and only covers damages directly caused by the flooding. For example, losses caused by a sewer backup is covered if the backup is a direct result of flooding. Here are some examples of things not covered by insurance:

• Temporary housing and additional living expenses while the building being repaired is unable to be occupied
• Property outside of the insured building like wells, landscaping, decks and patios, fences, swimming pools, etc.
• Financial losses caused by business interruption
• Currency, precious metals, stock certificates and other valuable papers
• Cars and most self-propelled vehicles, including their parts
• Personal property kept in basements

For more information about your coverage talk to your insurance agent before hurricane season starts, and visit FloodSmart | What Does Flood Insurance Cover?