Flood Insurance Water Damage

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

You would generally use the term "flooded" when you have water in your home. You might say, "My basement got flooded." It can be confusing when you're told that insurance doesn't cover flood damage, yet people get paid for "water damage floods." There is a difference between water damage and flood damage. 

What is a "Flood" in insurance terms? Definition

Insurance would view a flood claim as a body of water overflowing so the level of water outside your home rises to a point where it enters your home. The official definition of a flood states that it's "a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres and two or more properties of normally dry land."

A good way to understand whether you have a real flood claim or a water damage claim is to determine if more than one home is affected. If so, you may be looking at a flooding situation or a flood claim.

If only your home is affected, you probably don't have a flood claim even though you feel that you are "flooded." The source of water and the cause of damage is likely one of the scenarios described above. If it is sudden and accidental and not due to maintenance, it could be a covered water damage claim. 

A flood is generally not covered by home insurance policies. If you have concerns specific to your area, contact your local state commissioner's office for details about what flood insurance is available in your area. It can vary from state to state.

https://www.thebalance.com/sewer-backup-overflow-water-damage-4103166

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