In most cases, no. A standard homeowners policy in the US does not pay for damage caused by flooding. Flood cover is a separate policy, bought either through the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or from a private insurer.
This catches many people out. In Harris County, Texas, about 1 in 6 homes carries federal flood insurance. Nationally the figure is about 1 in 35 homes, and in about three quarters of all counties fewer than 1 in 100 homes have it. In a few places it is the norm: about 65% of homes in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, carry it.
What counts as a flood?
For insurance, a flood generally means water that rises from outside and covers normally dry land: an overflowing river or creek, storm surge from the sea, or heavy rain that pools faster than it can drain.
Water damage that starts inside the home is different. A burst pipe or a leaking water heater is usually covered by a home policy. Rain blowing in through a roof that a storm has damaged is often covered too, because the cause is wind.
What does a home policy cover in a hurricane?
Wind damage is usually covered, but many coastal policies have a separate hurricane or wind deductible, often 1% to 5% of the home’s insured value. On a $300,000 home, a 2% deductible means the first $6,000 of wind damage is yours to pay.
Storm surge and rising water are flood damage, so they fall under a flood policy, not the home policy.
How does federal flood insurance work?
The NFIP sells flood policies through regular insurance agents. For a home, it covers up to:
- $250,000 for the building
- $100,000 for contents, bought separately
There is usually a 30-day wait before a new policy starts. Exceptions apply, such as when a policy is bought with a new mortgage. In practice, you can’t buy cover when a storm is already on the way.
Do I have to buy it?
If your home is in a high-risk flood zone (zones starting with A or V on FEMA maps) and you have a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, the lender will require flood insurance.
Outside those zones it is optional. Even so, flood damage outside high-risk zones is common. In Harris County, many of the homes that flooded during Hurricane Harvey were outside the mapped high-risk zone.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the home. Since 2021, NFIP prices have been set under a system FEMA calls Risk Rating 2.0, which looks at each building’s distance to water, elevation, flood type and rebuilding cost, not only the map zone.
Each county page on this site shows the average federal flood premium paid in that county. It is an average, not a quote. Your price could be higher or lower.
Questions people ask
Does renters insurance cover flooding? No. Renters can buy NFIP contents-only cover, up to $100,000.
Does flood insurance cover my basement? Only partly. NFIP covers things like the furnace, water heater and electrical panel in a basement, but not finished walls, carpet or most belongings stored there.
Is private flood insurance better? Sometimes. Private policies can offer higher limits or shorter waits, and some cost less. Compare both before you decide.
How do I check my flood zone? Search your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Then look at your county page here to see how often the county has flooded and how many neighbours carry flood cover.
This page explains general insurance rules and is not insurance or legal advice. Check the details of your own policy with your insurer.