In the aftermath of a significant rainstorm, like the one that hit Long Island in August 2024, many homeowners face the daunting task of assessing flood damage and wondering if their insurance will cover it. Flooding can cause significant property damage, from waterlogged basements to ruined personal belongings, and understanding the nuances of insurance coverage can be challenging.
Navigating flood damage insurance coverage after a storm
Many homeowners mistakenly believe they are covered for flood damage under their standard homeowners insurance policy, but this is generally untrue. It’s crucial to review your policy carefully and understand its limitations. Flood insurance is typically purchased separately through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). You can obtain flood insurance through most insurance agents or companies participating in the NFIP. They can help you understand the coverage options and costs.
United Water Restoration Long Island provides our clients with specialized insurance claims assistance and management. Here, we share the most common questions we receive from our clients about flood damage and insurance coverage after heavy rain and flooding, ensuring you have the information needed to make informed decisions.
Do I have flood insurance?
Ask your insurance agent or company. Some residential zones are required to carry flood insurance, which may already be included in your current policy.
Who is my flood insurance through?
You will need to purchase flood insurance through your homeowner’s insurance company who will write a policy through NFIP, which is administered by FEMA. Flood insurance is not held by your homeowner’s insurance company directly.
If I don’t have flood insurance with my current carrier, is anything covered if I experience a flood?
The short answer is no, but there are federal programs available through FEMA that may be able to offer help or loans.
What does flood insurance cover?
The NFIP offers two types of coverage — building coverage and contents coverage — to protect your home and belongings.
Here are examples of what’s covered with NFIP flood insurance:
Building Coverage
- Electrical and plumbing systems
- Furnaces and water heaters
- Refrigerators, cooking stoves, and built-in appliances like dishwashers
- Permanently installed carpeting
- Permanently installed cabinets, paneling, and bookcases
- Window blinds
- Foundation walls, anchorage systems, and staircases.
- Detached garages
- Fuel tanks, well water tanks and pumps, and solar energy equipment
Contents Coverage
- Personal belongings such as clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment
- Curtains
- Washer and dryer
- Portable and window air conditioners
- Microwave oven
- Carpets not included in building coverage (e.g., carpet installed over wood floors)
- Valuable items such as original artwork and furs (up to $2,500)
Coverage limits: $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for the building contents. These are typically purchased separately with separate deductibles.
What does flood insurance NOT cover?
- Temporary housing and additional living expenses incurred while the building is being repaired or is unable to be occupied
- Property outside of an insured building. For example, landscaping, wells, septic systems, decks and patios, fences, seawalls, hot tubs, and swimming pools
- Financial losses caused by business interruption
- Currency, precious metals, stock certificates, and other valuable papers
- Cars and most self-propelled vehicles, including their parts
- Personal property kept in basements
How much does flood insurance pay for dry out?
FEMA has guidelines on what it will pay for when remediating your home after a flood, even with flood insurance. These are not industry standards for drying a property and can sometimes mean that not all services needed to properly remediate your home will be covered through flood insurance. For more information on what FEMA pays for through flood insurance, visit https://nfipservices.floodsmart.gov/sites/default/files/w-13025a.pdf.
What’s most important after a flood?
Remediating the damages as quickly as possible to not cause other damages like mold caused by saturated materials over time. Work with a company you have trust in, and don’t be afraid to fire a contractor; it’s YOUR home! Find out if the contractor works for you or the insurance company — this is usually identified by whether the insurance company is sending the remediation company to your home or not.
United Water Restoration works with all insurance carriers and guides you through the claims process. As a full-service restoration company, our industry-certified team will develop a tailored mitigation and repair plan to meet your needs. Call us at (631) 494-4764 for a free property assessment.
Who needs flood insurance?
Most standard homeowners insurance policies explicitly exclude damage caused by flooding. This includes water from heavy rain, storm surges, flash floods, and overflowing rivers. Flooding can happen anywhere, even if you are not in an area that requires flood insurance. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or renter, flood insurance can help you protect against physical losses to your structure and belongings.
High-Risk Areas: If you live in a high-risk flood zone, known as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), your mortgage lender may require you to carry flood insurance.
Moderate to Low-Risk Areas: Flood insurance can still be a good investment even if you live in a lower-risk area. According to NFIP, from 2014 to 2018, policyholders outside high-risk flood areas filed over 40% of flood insurance claims and required one-third of federal disaster assistance for flooding.
For more information about what’s covered and to find a policy, visit FloodSmart.gov.
Peace of Mind
Flooding can cause extensive and costly damage to your home. Without flood insurance, you would have to pay out of pocket for repairs and restoration. Weather patterns are increasingly unpredictable, and flooding can happen anywhere. Flood insurance provides peace of mind and financial security.
Given the significant risk and the fact that standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s wise to evaluate your need for flood insurance and consider purchasing a policy if you don’t already have one.
Final Thoughts
With a focus on making home maintenance more manageable, United is committed to educating Long Island homeowners about proactive care, providing practical solutions, and simplifying the complexities of property management. In case of property damage, call us at (631) 494-4764.
