It is important that property owners understand their risk exposure to flood AND are aware that their property insurance policy most likely does not include this coverage. There are several options available to you for flood insurance, so read on to help evaluate your risk and determine the right course of action for you.

What is a Flood? 

A flood occurs when two or more acres of dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow. This is typically the result of an overflowing body of water, but could also be oversaturated ground from intense rain storms causing water to seep through foundation walls, or damage from a hurricane or earthquake storm surge. It is important to note that even if you have Named Windstorm and/or Earthquake coverage, it will not cover loss from storm surge flooding that results from either of those perils. To be considered a flood loss, the water must come from an external source (not from within your plumbing or sewer system). What many people consider to be a “flooded basement or kitchen” may actually be Sewer & Drain Backup or Water Damage when it comes to insurance.

Read more about the difference between various water-related losses here.

Knowing Your Risk

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) maintains maps of flood zones based on a given area’s risk of flood. These maps identify high-risk flood zones- denoted as letters A (non-coastal) or V (coastal), moderate-risk zones– denoted as letter B or shaded X, low-risk zones– denoted as letters C or X, and letter D zones- areas with possible but undetermined flood hazards. You can find out your flood zone here.

Most mortgage companies lending on a property in an A or V zone will require that the property owner carry flood insurance. This is common for federally-regulated or government-backed lending institutions.

However, even if your property is not in a high-risk flood zone, you may still be exposed to loss from a flood. In fact, 20-25 percent of flood losses nationwide are outside of a high-risk zone.  Even in a moderate-risk zone, you have higher than a 1 in 4 chance you’ll be flooded during a 30-year mortgage, which is more likely than a fire. The average flood loss can cost nearly $40,000, so flood insurance should be considered for any property, regardless of location.

What Flood Insurance Covers

A typical flood policy will have a set building coverage limit (commonly $250,000) and will cover:

  • Essential systems in the home (such as electric and plumbing, furnace, HVAC, etc.)
  • Appliances
  • Carpet
  • Walls and built-in cabinets and shelves
  • Foundation walls
  • In many cases, a limit for a detached garage

Usually, personal property coverage can also be purchased up to a defined limit.

What is NOT covered includes damage by mold or mildew from a flood that could have been avoided, additional living expenses or loss of use if the resident has to relocate for a period of time, cars or vehicles, and oftentimes contents that are in the basement.

Exploring Your Options

There are several options to consider Flood Insurance.

NFIP

FEMA administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is backed by a network of over 50 insurers. On October 1, 2021, FEMA launched Risk Rating 2.0, a new pricing methodology in which flood zones are no longer used to calculate rates. FEMA notes, “Under Risk Rating 2.0, premiums are calculated based on specific features of the individual property- including distance from water, type of flooding, flood frequency, structure foundation type, height of the lowest floor relative to Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and the structure’s replacement cost value. Risk Rating 2.0 also adds pluvial flood risk—flooding from heavy rainfall.”

These policies offer up to a $250,000 building coverage limit for residential properties and $500,000 for 5+ units, plus the option of purchasing up to $100,000 of personal property coverage. FEMA’s offering is an annual policy.

NFIP drawback: There is a 30-day waiting period to obtain coverage unless it was purchased when the property was purchased or the area is newly designated as a high-risk flood zone. NFIP is an annual policy that can only be canceled mid-term for a limited number of approved reasons (e.g. the mortgage was paid off, the home was sold, or the location is no longer in a high-risk area after a map change).

Private Flood

Flood Insurance is also available through private insurers. While coverage will be similar to that under the NFIP, private insurers can set their own rates based on a wider variety of factors, especially related to the building itself (age, square footage, number of stories, etc). Private flood options are also typically more flexible with coverage limits, waiting periods, and additional coverage options.

NREIG has two private flood options.

Our Program Flood master policy can be purchased as an add-on to your current coverage. The upsides of this option are that it is included in your monthly schedule and bill, it remains in force unless it is canceled (no annual payment or renewal), AND there is no waiting period – coverage can start right away. Properties with one to four units can obtain up to $250,000 of coverage and five to twenty-unit properties can obtain up to $500,000 of coverage, subject to a $1,000 deductible ($5,000 in Massachusetts).

Program Flood drawback: Although this coverage is equivalent to NFIP, some lenders will only accept NFIP.

The second option we offer is through Neptune. This offering allows for higher limits of coverage (up to $4 million for building and $500,000 for contents) as well as options for temporary living expenses, basement contents, detached structures, and pool repair.

Neptune Flood drawback: There is a 10-day waiting period to start coverage. While Neptune can often be a more affordable option, it is also an annual policy with an annual renewal, subject to the same cancellation restrictions as NFIP.

Feel free to ask your Client Service Advisor about any of these three options to find the right one for you.