Flood insurance is a separate policy you can buy in addition to your homeowners, renters or condo insurance. It’s a kind of catastrophe insurance. Typically, home insurance policies do not cover flooding from rain, overflowing rivers and other water that enters your home from outside.
Because flooding is such a costly risk, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), part of FEMA, underwrites most flood insurance in the U.S. and collaborates with private insurers, including Farmers®, through its Write Your Own (WYO) Program.
Do I need flood insurance?
You don’t have to live on the coast or near a river to be hit by flooding. Floods can happen just about anywhere it rains. To find your home’s risk, you can search your address on the interactive map in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
Facts about flooding you may not know1
Even if you live where flood risk is low or moderate, you are five times more likely to be hit with flooding than a fire in your home over the next 30 years, according to FEMA.
99% of all U.S. counties were impacted by flooding between 1996 and 2019.
Just one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage.
NFIP paid out 405,500 claims totaling $28 billion from 2013 to 2023. That doesn’t include flood losses paid by private insurers. You can calculate your own state’s losses on NFIP’s interactive map.
The most expensive flood disaster in the United States was Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in August 2005 and left $16 billion in losses.
What does flood insurance cover?
Flood insurance can help you cover losses from damage directly caused by flooding, defined as an excess of water on land normally dry. It provides two types of coverage for your home; each coverage is purchased separately and has a separate deductible.
Building coverage helps pay for damage to the physical structure of your home and things that are permanently installed.
Contents coverage can help you replace your belongings, including furniture, computers and clothing.
What doesn’t flood insurance cover?
Flood insurance does not cover losses from burst pipes flooding your home, overflowing bathtubs that ruin flooring or a ceiling and other damage caused by water that originates inside your home. If a heavy rainstorm causes a sewer to back up into your home, flood insurance can cover damage. But if your sewer backs up for other reasons, like a clogged pipe, flood insurance won’t cover the damage.
Homeowners insurance can cover damage caused by water problems inside the house, and your policy may offer optional water backup coverage. You can also take simple steps, like improving drainage around your house, to help prevent water intrusion into your home.
Flood insurance also does not cover things outside of your home, including:
- Septic systems
- Decks and patios
- Fences
- Hot tubs and swimming pools
- Financial losses caused by business interruption
- Cars
- Personal property (other than connected appliances) stored in your basement
Flood insurance offers limited coverage for valuables like artwork and antiques.
How much does flood insurance cost?
Flood insurance rates are based on your property’s unique risk level, plus characteristics specific to your home. Replacement cost, the height of your first floor, the number of floors and construction type can all be factors, along with the deductible and amount of coverage you choose.
How do I get flood insurance?
Flood insurance backed by the NFIP is available through Farmers in all 50 states. A Farmers agent can help you determine your home’s flood risk, walk you through the options and give you a free quote.
More flood insurance resources
Learn more about flood insurance.
- Why buy flood insurance? (FEMA NFIP)
- Calculate the cost of flooding on the NFIP Flood Insurance Cost Calculator
- Learn more about FEMA Flood Insurance
- Find more information and useful tools on FEMA Resources
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