What can flood insurance cover?
Different insurers have different coverage, so make sure you check your policy. You'll want to know what's covered.
Commonly covered
Appliances and cabinets
Carpet and flooring
Electrical and plumbing systems
Heating and air systems
Furniture
Clothes
Electronics
Some valuables, like jewelry and artwork
Usually not covered
Vehicles
Basements
Money, including paper bills and coins
Pools and landscaping
Damage from earth movement
Sewer backups not caused by flooding
Mold and mildew not caused by flooding
Do you really need flood insurance?
Floods are the top natural disaster in the U.S., and they can happen anywhere. To help protect your physical home and the contents inside, you’ll need to get flood insurance.
Do I need Flood Insurance?
Video Duration: 1 minute 20 seconds
The risk of flooding: Elapsed time 0 seconds [00:00]
You've heard it before: When it rains, it pours.
But here's a little twist for you: When it rains, it also can flood – wherever you live. It's time to accept the following fact before it's too late: every home is at risk of flooding.
Even if your house is in a “low-risk” flood zone, “low-risk” does NOT mean “no-risk.”
Reasons to get flood insurance: Elapsed time 23 seconds [00:23]
In fact, more than 25% of flood claims are from moderate or low-risk areas.
Description of Visual Information: [Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency (2020)] End of description.
That's reason enough to think about getting flood insurance or renewing your policy.
Did you know typical homeowners insurance policies don't cover floods? Here's more proof why you should consider flood insurance. In the past five years, all 50 states have experienced a flood or flash flood.
Description of Visual Information: [Source: FEMA (2017)] End of description.
Yet, only 27% of those with homeowners insurance said they have flood insurance.
Description of Visual Information: [Source: Insurance Information Institute (2020)] End of description.
Still not convinced? Think about how much a flood could cost you. Just a few inches of water in your home can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Getting your policy: Elapsed time 1 minute 1 second [01:01]
Don't you think it's time to get flood insurance? There's typically a 30-day waiting period before the policy is effective, so you may want to sign up today.
You can't afford to wait until flooding's in the forecast.
End: Elapsed time 1 minute, 20 seconds [01:20]
Flood insurance FAQ
Flood damage is caused by rising water, or floodwater, from outside your property.
Water damage could be from a burst pipe or rainwater coming in through a hole in the roof. It’s damage that’s not related to outside floodwaters.
Most homeowners policies don’t include flood coverage. You’ll have to separately purchase flood insurance for your home.
While it’s not required coverage, floods happen, so it’s a good idea to protect your stuff. Flood coverage usually doesn't come standard with renters insurance, but it’s included with a USAA Renters Insurance policy. USAA Renters Insurance policy