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Understanding Flood Insurance

Trying to figure out flood insurance on your own can be frustrating. But we are here to guide you.

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In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in response to a growing need for flood insurance, which often was either unavailable or unaffordable on the private insurance market. The program is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is delivered to the public by a network of insurance companies and the NFIP Direct system. 

The NFIP provides flood insurance to property owners, renters, and businesses. Having coverage can help you recover faster after a flood. Visit floodsmart.gov to learn more about how to assess your flood risk, obtain flood insurance, reduce your flood insurance costs, and more.

IDENTIFY YOUR FLOOD RISK

The first step to protect YOU AND your property from flooding is to understand your flood risk.

 

Flood risk is a combination of the probability (likelihood) of a flood event occurring and the consequences (impact) if it does. Everyone lives in an area with some flood risk — it’s just a question of whether you live in a high-risk, low-risk or moderate-risk flood area. Flood maps show a community’s flood risk. Flood zones are indicated in a community’s flood map. Learn how to understand your community's flood maps and flood zones.

If you are not in a mapped flood zone, that does not mean you are completely safe. Consider asking others in your area if they have experienced flooding. Local knowledge is often the most valuable information for assessing one’s risk.

Explore the FEMA flood map

BUYING FLOOD INSURANCE

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR FLOOD INSURANCE?

The NFIP offers flood insurance policies for homeowners, renters and businesses. The policies are an essential layer of protection because most homeowners, renters and business insurance does not cover flood damage. Visit floodsmart.gov to learn more about how to get flood insurance.

  • Homeowners: Flood insurance policies for homeowners cover your building and belongings. Building policies cover up to $250,000 of flood damage, and content policies cover up to $100,000 of flood damage.
  • Renters: Renters flood insurance policies protect the things you own inside your home. They protect things like your furniture, clothes, television, computers, rugs and some artwork. This type of policy covers your belongings for up to $100,000 of damage.
  • Business Owners: Commercial flood insurance protects your business's building and equipment. The two coverage types insure things like your foundation, utilities, furniture and inventory. Each type of policy (building and contents) covers up to $500,000 in flood damage.
WHAT DOES FLOOD INSURANCE COVER?

The two kinds of flood insurance coverage are building coverage and contents coverage. Building and contents coverage are typically purchased separately and have separate deductibles. Make sure to check your policy to see what is covered.

  • Building Coverage: Building coverage insures the building itself and its foundation, electrical and plumbing systems, furnaces and water heaters, refrigerators, stoves and built-in appliances like dishwashers, permanently installed carpeting, permanently installed cabinets, paneling and bookcases, window blinds, foundation walls, anchorage systems and staircases, detached garages, fuel tanks, well water tanks and pumps, and solar energy equipment. Note that basements, defined as any area of a building with a floor that is below the ground on all sides, receive limited coverage.
  • Contents Coverage: Contents coverage insures things like clothing, furniture, electronic equipment, curtains, washers and dryers, portable and window air conditioners, microwaves, carpet installed over wood floors, and certain valuable items. Like building coverage, this does not cover most items in a basement.

The cause of flooding matters when determining coverage. For example, a flood insurance policy would cover damages from a sewer that backed up due to heavy rain, but not damages from a backup caused by clogged pipes. 

Standard homeowners' insurance policies often cover water damage resulting from internal defects, but a separate flood insurance policy is required to cover losses caused by natural hazard flooding.

FLOOD INSURANCE RATES

Three things determine your flood insurance rate:
  • Where your property is built
  • How it’s built
  • What it would cost to replace it. 
Your premium is completely unique to your home. That means if you live in an area with low flood risk, you'll pay less than someone who lives in a high-risk area. FEMA's new NFIP quoting tool can provide a quick estimate of what you might pay; however, talking to an insurance agent is the only way to get an official quote.

FEMA NFIP Quoting Tool

 

Resources

RESOURCES

  • StormSmart Coasts Program - The program helps communities and people working and living on the Coast in Massachusetts.

  • ResilientMass - The Commonwealth’s initiative for building statewide capacity for climate change adaptation and resilience

Departments

Inspectional Services Department
Office of Climate Resilience
Office of Emergency Management
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