What You Need to Know About Flood Insurance

Posted September 8, 2025

Flooding is one of the most common types of natural disasters that can occur and also one of the costliest. Even so, your standard homeowners insurance policy probably doesn’t cover flood damage, which is what makes having flood insurance so important.

What exactly is flood insurance? This type of specialized insurance is designed to protect both your home and your belongings from damage and losses that occur due to rising water. When flooding happens because of a storm surge, an overflowing river, or a heavy rain, your flood insurance policy will provide financial protection when water damages your property. If you don’t have this type of insurance, you could be responsible for costly repairs and replacements.

It’s important to understand what qualifies as flooding. According to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a flood is defined as an overflow of inland or tidal waters, or an unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff surface waters from any source. To qualify as a flood, an area totaling two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties must be inundated with water.

Most flood insurance policies have two parts: Contents coverage and building coverage. Building coverage helps pay to repair or rebuild your home’s physical structure, including the plumbing systems, flooring, and electrical. In comparison, contents coverage helps protect your personal belongings, including electronics, clothing, and furniture. Combined, these coverages can provide peace of mind in the event of a flood.

Most flood insurance policies have a waiting period that must occur before coverage takes effect. For this reason, don’t wait until a flood happens or is on the horizon to make sure your home and belongings are protected.

At Legacy Insurance Partners, we can help you understand your risk and find the right flood insurance policy to help you protect your home and your belongings. To learn more about what flood insurance is and how it works, get in touch with us today.