Why is flood insurance separate

Products may not be available in all states. Why is flood coverage not included in homeowners insurance? By Chris Deleon Tips. Your first instinct will be to start cleaning up the mess.

However, you should first document the damage as best you can by taking detailed photos. Gather any other evidence as well, like newspaper articles detailing the storm or photos from neighbors. When the claims adjuster comes to your house, be prepared to answer difficult questions in detail and provide your carefully gathered evidence. Some may even offer free estimates if your budget is tight.

If the insurance company lowballs you, use this to negotiate a fair price. Next steps link: For peace of mind and full protection, understand how much insurance coverage you need. The risk of flood damage or loss According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA floods—including inland flooding, flash floods and flooding from seasonal storms—occur in every region of the United States.

Flood insurance basics Insuring yourself against a flood is a little different than other policies. Floods are not covered under homeowners and renters policies. Only a specific flood insurance policy will cover home flood related losses. Most flood insurance is administered through the federal government.

A flood insurance policy offers two types of coverage. Flood insurance also includes personal contents coverage, which helps pay to repair or replace your belongings such as clothing, furniture and electronics.

Keep in mind, though, that while flood insurance may cover appliances, such as a furnace, in your basement, it does not cover damage to belongings you store there or damage to things like walls and floors in below-ground rooms.

A local Allstate agent can help you learn more about flood insurance and purchase a policy through the National Flood Insurance Program if it's available in your area.

Want to learn more? Subject to National Flood Insurance Program terms, conditions and availability. In some cases, you may be required to have flood insurance. If you own a home on land that is at high risk of flooding, your mortgage lender may require you to purchase flood insurance, says FloodSmart. Flood insurance isn't just for homes in high-risk areas, though. The Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA says that all 50 states have experienced floods, and that more than 20 percent of the claims it handles come from the moderate- to low-risk regions.

Flood insurance policies can be purchased through local insurance agents by homeowners, business owners and renters who want protection for their homes, buildings and belongings. Landlords can buy separate flood insurance policies to help protect the home. So, what does a flood policy help protect? FEMA says you can purchase coverage to help protect your home, your personal belongings, or both. Here are some of the basics for these two types of coverage:. An Allstate agent can answer coverage questions and help you find ways to protect what matters most.