Flood insurance and homeowners insurance are two separate policies that protect against different risks. Homeowners insurance covers a broad range of perils—fire, theft, wind, hail, and certain types of water damage—but specifically excludes flooding. Flood insurance covers damage from rising water, storm surge, and surface water accumulation. Most homeowners need both to be fully protected.
A standard homeowners policy (HO-3) covers your dwelling, personal property, liability, and additional living expenses against named perils. Water damage from internal sources—a burst pipe, an overflowing washing machine, or an accidental discharge from a plumbing system—is generally covered. Wind and hail damage are also covered, though in hurricane-prone states these may carry separate deductibles.
Flood insurance covers physical damage caused by water that rises from the ground up, overflows from a body of water, or accumulates on normally dry land. This includes storm surge, river flooding, heavy rain runoff, and flash floods. Flood policies have their own limits, deductibles, and terms that are completely separate from your homeowners policy.
After a hurricane, determining whether damage was caused by wind (covered by homeowners) or rising water (covered by flood) can be contentious. Having both policies in force eliminates the risk of falling into the gap between the two.
Think of homeowners and flood insurance as two halves of complete home protection. A Truscott policy checkup reviews both policies together to make sure there are no gaps between them. Contact us for a coverage review and we will make sure your home is protected from every direction water can come.
Flood insurance has important exclusions. Learn what flood policies do not cover so you can prepare for gaps and avoid claim surprises.
Flood and StormA clear breakdown of what flood insurance covers for your building and personal property, including specific items that are and are not included.