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Flood Facts

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States.

Facts:
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.
  • Floods and flash floods happen in all 50 states.
  • Just an inch of water can cause costly damage to your property.
  • Hurricanes, winter storms, and snow melt are common causes of flooding.
  • Roughly 25% of all flood claims paid are for policies in low- to moderate-risk areas.
  • If your home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), it has a 26% chance of being damaged by a flood during the course of a 30-year mortgage, compared to a 9% chance of being damaged by a fire.
  • New land development can increase flood risk, especially if the construction changes natural runoff paths.
  • Federal disaster assistance after a flood is usually a loan that must be paid back with interest.

What is a flood?

The way the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and your homeowners insurance agent define floods may differ from how you might describe one-and that may have an impact on what is covered by your homeowners policy.

According to the NFIP, a flood is defined as "a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is the policyholder's property) from:

  • Overflow of inland or tidal waters; or
  • Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
  • Mudflow; or
  • Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding the cyclical levels which results in flood, as defined above."

(Sources: FEMA publication "National Flood Insurance Program Summary of Coverage," "FEMA Mandatory Purchase Guidelines," and www.fema.gov - FloodSmart "Know the Facts")