Flood Insurance: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

Floods rank as the most common natural disaster in the United States.

Surprisingly, a standard homeowners policy does not cover flood damage.

Therefore, you need a separate flood policy to fully protect your home.

Many people learn this lesson the hard way after a major storm.

However, you can avoid that mistake by acting before the next one hits.

The Two Perils of a Hurricane: Wind and Flood

First, every hurricane brings two distinct dangers — wind and flood.

Furthermore, two completely separate policies cover these two perils.

Specifically, your homeowners policy handles wind damage to the structure.

However, flood damage from storm surge or heavy rain needs a flood policy.

For example, recent storms show how costly the flood side can be.

In 2022, Hurricane Ian caused total damages of $41 to $70 billion.

Of that, flood losses alone reached $8 to $18 billion.

On Sanibel Island, the NFIP paid out roughly $620 million in claims.

Amazingly, that figure was nearly 100 times the prior 40 years combined.

Then in 2024, Hurricane Milton caused around $34 billion in losses.

Sadly, $4 to $6 billion of that flood damage went uninsured.

Clearly, homeowners insurance alone often covers only half of a hurricane’s damage.

Simply put, flood insurance pays for damage caused by rising water.

Most policies come from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), run by FEMA.

Additionally, several private flood insurance options now exist.

For more details, visit the FEMA flood insurance page.

Surprisingly, more than 25% of flood claims come from lower-risk areas.

In fact, just one inch of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage.

Moreover, most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage starts.

Therefore, do not wait until a storm shows up in the forecast.

Generally, a typical policy includes two main types of coverage.

Building coverage — protects your home’s structure, plumbing, electrical, and built-ins.
Contents coverage — protects clothing, furniture, electronics, and other belongings.

However, items like landscaping, pools, and basement contents may have strict limits.

That’s why a quick policy review with a local agent makes a big difference.

At Cronin Insurance, we help families find the right flood coverage for their budget.

Floods will not wait, and neither should you.

📞 Contact us today to speak with a local agent who knows your area.

Low rates, choice of companies and personal advice from local agents.

When it comes to Flood Insurance, Cronin Insurance is the Wise Choice.

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