No — a standard homeowners insurance policy generally does not cover flood damage. This is one of the most important and most misunderstood gaps in home coverage.
The distinction insurers draw:
- Water damage that may be covered — sudden, internal events like a burst pipe are often covered by a standard policy.
- Flood damage that is excluded — rising water from outside the home, such as heavy rain, storm surge, an overflowing river, or flash flooding, is typically not covered.
How to be protected against floods: flood damage requires a separate flood insurance policy. Flood coverage is available through the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and through some private insurers.
Who should consider flood insurance:
- If your home is in a designated high-risk flood zone, a lender will usually require flood insurance.
- Even in moderate- or low-risk areas, flooding can still happen — a large share of flood claims come from outside high-risk zones.
Good to know: a new flood insurance policy often has a waiting period before coverage takes effect, so it is not something to arrange at the last minute before a storm.
To review your property coverage and discuss flood risk, see what property insurance RMO offers or get an insurance quote from RMO.