No, hurricane insurance usually doesn’t include flooding coverage.
It protects against wind and wind-driven rain damage, but not rising water or storm surge damage.
Flooding is seen as a different risk, needing a separate insurance policy. Flood insurance is made to safeguard against damage from rising water or storm surges.
It’s accessible to homeowners, renters, and business owners through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federal program offering flood insurance coverage.
Why is flood insurance not covered by hurricane insurance?
There are several reasons why flood insurance is usually not part of hurricane insurance policies.
Flood insurance is typically not included in hurricane insurance policies for several reasons.
Flooding occurs more frequently than hurricanes. The NFIP estimates that approximately 25% of all homes in the United States will face a flood at some point. Including flood insurance in hurricane policies would result in significantly higher premiums.
Flood damage can be more severe than hurricane damage. In certain cases, flooding has the potential to completely destroy a home, while hurricane damage is often limited to wind and roof damage.
The government subsidizes flood insurance. The NFIP provides subsidies for flood insurance premiums to enhance affordability for homeowners and businesses. Integrating flood insurance into hurricane policies would eliminate this subsidy.
[Photo: Forbes]
How to get flood insurance
Consider buying flood insurance if you live in a flood-prone area. You can get it through the NFIP or a private insurance company.
To get NFIP flood insurance:
Visit the NFIP website or call your insurance agent.
Give your address and property details.
Choose the type of flood coverage you need.
Pay your premium.
To get Flood Insurance from a private insurance company
Contact your insurance agent.
Inquire about the company’s flood insurance policies.
Get a quote for the coverage.
Decide whether to buy flood insurance from the private company.
How does flood insurance work?