Flood Damage

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Flood Damage?

If you live in South Florida, this is one of the most important insurance questions you can ask.

The short answer is no.

A standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage caused by rising water. That includes storm surge from a hurricane, overflowing canals, heavy rainfall that causes water to enter your home, or water that rises from the ground and floods your property.

This surprises many homeowners because they assume hurricane damage and flood damage are covered under the same policy. They are not.

What Is Covered?

A homeowners insurance policy may cover damage caused by wind, hail, or falling trees if those perils are included in your policy.

For example, if hurricane-force winds damage your roof and rain enters through the opening created by the wind, that damage is often covered.

However, if floodwater rises from outside and enters your home, the damage is generally excluded under a standard homeowners policy.

The source of the water matters.

Insurance companies typically define a flood as water that covers normally dry land and affects two or more properties or at least two acres of land.

Examples include:

• Storm surge during a hurricane
• Heavy rainfall causing streets to flood
• Overflowing lakes, rivers, or canals
• Rising groundwater entering your home

These events typically require a separate flood insurance policy.

Do I Need Flood Insurance?

Many South Florida homeowners believe they only need flood insurance if they live in a high-risk flood zone.

That is not always true.

Flooding can occur outside of designated high-risk areas, and many flood claims come from properties located in moderate- or low-risk flood zones.

The only way to know your risk is to review your property’s location, elevation, and available coverage options.

How Can I Protect My Home?

The best time to review your insurance is before hurricane season—not after a storm is approaching.

A policy review can help you understand:

• Whether you currently have flood insurance
• What your homeowners policy does and does not cover
• Whether your current coverage matches your property’s risks
• If there are gaps that could leave you paying out of pocket after a loss