Flood Insurance

Understanding Flood Zones and Risk Levels

Flood insurance is a special branch of homeowners insurance that covers flood damage to a home and its contents. Flood insurance is not included in standard insurance policies and must be purchased separately.

Floods can be particularly destructive to a home, and depending on location and other factors, flood insurance can range significantly in price. Many insurance policies base their prices on the risk level of the flooding of a home using topographical maps.

Certain high-risk areas only offer standard rated policies the cover building and contents separately. Homes in high-risk flood areas may also require flood insurance in order for the owner to get a mortgage through a federally regulated lender. Other factors include the year the building was constructed, its occupancy, number of floors, location of contents, and the location of the lowest floor.