An Introduction to Flood Insurance

Property Insurance for Flood

© Jared Plotkin

Feb 18, 2009
Flood Insurance, Flickr CC
What is flood insurance? What does it cover? Who needs it - and why? What does it cost? When should one buy flood insurance?

Flood insurance is a kind of property insurance that protects against the threat of flood. It, however, doesn't prevent all of the risks of flood, so it is important to know what kind of protection one can get from flood insurance.

Flood Insurance Coverage

The most basic flood insurance coverage only protects the value of the physical house itself. It usually does not protect against any of the following: loss of human life, loss of pets, medical expenses accrued due to injuries sustained in the disaster, damage to the landscape, or damage to one's personal belongings inside the house, garages and gazebos outside the house, and living expenses to move somewhere else until the house is repaired. An extended property insurance package can cover these things, but in general, the most basic flood insurance coverage does not.

National Flood Insurance Program

The national flood insurance program is different from regular property insurance, and can be purchased if one lives in a high-flood risk area. It is used to help the cost of federal disaster relief programs, and certain banks can force their customers to purchase the national flood insurance program if they make a loan for a property in a high flood risk area.

Buy Flood Insurance

Obviously, there are some areas that are more prone to flooding than others, and consulting with an insurance agent or online agency will help you determine if you live in a risky enough location to buy flood insurance. In addition, homes that are damaged by flood and get federal aid can be forced to buy flood insurance. If they do not, they can be denied federal aid if a disaster damages their property a second time.

Flood Insurance Information

Flood insurance information generally has its share of legal restrictions and details. Insuring belongings generally has a certain maximum value. If one has a lot of valuables in their home that they wish to insure, it may be necessary to take out additional policies. One should always read the details and information about flood insurance, or any type of insurance policy, before purchasing it. If a flood was caused by a terrorist attack, such as an attack on a damn, then terrorism risk insurance may apply instead of flood insurance

Flood insurance helps protect property above the normal standards of property insurance, though other kinds of policies may be needed if one wants to be completely financially protected in the event of an emergency. Similar to fire insurance, flood insurance has many different kinds of policies and levels of protection, though the cost is usually low annually.


The copyright of the article An Introduction to Flood Insurance in Home/Property Insurance is owned by Jared Plotkin. Permission to republish An Introduction to Flood Insurance in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


Flood Insurance, Flickr CC
Buy Flood Insurance, Flickr CC
National Flood Insurance Program, Flickr CC
Flood Insurance Coverage, Flickr CC
 


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