Frequently Asked Questions

No. Flood Insurance is the ONLY insurance that protects your property from damage due to flood waters.

Your insurance agent or realtor can help you determine if your home is located in a floodplain. To view a flood map for your area, Click here.

Everyone is in some danger of having their property damaged by flood waters. Just because it has never happened where you live, doesn't mean that it never will. According to FEMA, approximately 30% of all National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance claims are paid to people who live in low or moderate-risk flood zones. Changes that are made to the environment and landscape not only in your area, but also upstream along rivers, creeks and bayous can alter the way water flows. Another change in flood conditions can occur when drains become blocked or simply overworked due to expanding development. And of course, you never know when a torrential rainstorm may decide to dump enormous amounts of water on your area too quickly to effectively drain. Flood insurance gives you the peace of mind to know that you are covered if any of these events should ever surprise you.

Yes. In fact, if you have a federally backed mortgage on a home that is located in a high-risk area, federal law requires that you have flood insurance. You are also required to carry flood insurance in order to qualify for future aid if you have previously received a federal grant for flood losses.

Yes. As long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), you are eligible to purchase flood insurance. As a renter, you would purchase Content Only flood insurance. Your landlord would be responsible for insuring the structure. Click Here to see if your community is listed as a participant in NFIP.

It's best to talk to one of our agents today. Most flood insurance policies do not take effect until 30 days after they are purchased. This means that if you wait until a storm is forecasted to inquire about flood insurance...you've waited too long. You will not be covered if that storm causes flood damage to your home. The exception to the 30 day delay occurs if your mortgage lender requires flood insurance for you to close or renew your loan. In that case the waiting period is waived.

Disaster relief is only available if a flood is a federally declared disaster. Most floods do not fall under this category. If your home is damaged by a storm or occurrance that is not a federally declared disaster, you will be responsible for all repairs without financial assistance. Even if the flood that damages your home is declared a federal disaster, disaster assistance is usually provided in the form of a loan that must be repaid with interest in addition to the mortgage payment that you are making on the damaged property.

Flood insurance policy claims are paid regardless of whether or not the flood was declared a federal disaster. Policy holders will be reimbursed for their expenses associated with the flood, and do not have to repay the funds as they would on a disaster assistance loan.

In the event of damage caused by a flood, a standard flood policy covers the following losses to your property: structural damage, flood debris clean up, furnace, air conditioner & water heater, and floor surfaces such as carpet and tile. Contents Coverage can also be purchased to cover personal items within your home including furniture, art, clothing, jewelry, and collectibles.

A home and its contents can sustain serious, potentially costly damage with as little as one inch of water.