Flood Insurance vs. Homeowner’s Insurance — What You Need to Know
Flood insurance and homeowner’s insurance are not the same thing—yet many homeowners mistakenly believe they are. Understanding the difference can be the deciding factor in whether your home is protected or not when water starts rising.
What’s Actually Covered?
The key difference is simple: homeowner’s insurance covers everything except flood damage. That includes things like theft, damage from a burst pipe (if pipes are covered), or a tree falling on your house. But if the water comes from the ground up—like rain runoff or a creek overflowing—that’s considered a flood, and it’s not covered under your typical homeowner’s policy.
In Short:
- Covered under homeowner’s insurance: burst pipes, toilet overflows, hail storms, wind damage.
- Not covered: rainwater seeping in, sump pump failure, rising groundwater—unless you have flood insurance.
Flood Insurance Basics
Flood insurance is a separate policy, usually through a different carrier. It’s designed to cover damages from rising water—think heavy rain, overflowing rivers, or hurricanes. This kind of insurance generally protects from the knee down—so if you have valuable items on the basement floor or ground level, it’s best to elevate them above that threshold.
How to Prepare for Heavy Rain and Flooding
- Clean your gutters and downspouts to make sure water is flowing away from the house.
- Check the slope of your yard to ensure water drains away from the foundation.
- Inspect and test sump pumps to make sure they’re working.
- Seal any visible cracks in concrete to help prevent water seepage.
Elevate valuables off the basement or crawlspace floor.
