Flood Coverage

Living on the coast will bring new challenges. Often homeowners don't realize that homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Insurance against flood must be separately obtained. A flood insurance policy will cover flood damage as well as damage prevention done by sandbagging your homes, moving furniture and removing debris.

FEMA's maps show if your home sits in a 100-year flood plain, requiring federal flood insurance in order to get a mortgage. If you live outside a high-risk zone, or if you no longer have a mortgage, flood insurance is optional.

To be eligible for a Preferred Risk Policy, the building must be in a B, C, or X Zone on the effective date of the initial term of the flood policy.  Then, if otherwise eligible, continuous coverage guarantees Preferred Risk eligibility, even if there is a subsequent zone change.