FEMA Urges Homeowners to Check Flood Insurance Coverage
Flood claims often come from lower-risk areas, not only places near rivers and lakes.
A standard homeowners policy usually leaves flood damage out of its coverage, FEMA says. The warning applies to renters, too, and officials say people outside designated high-risk zones can still face flooding.
Flooding affected 99% of U.S. counties during the 2003–2023 period. Claims data also show that nearly one in three National Flood Insurance Program claims filed from 2014 through 2024 came from communities classified as low or moderate risk. Water damage can develop away from major waterways as construction, soil loss and natural events alter local conditions.
Flood coverage is offered to homeowners and renters in participating National Flood Insurance Program communities. A policy can pay a covered claim without a presidential disaster declaration. Federal disaster aid works differently: it relies on such a declaration and may come through FEMA help or low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration. Residential buildings may be insured for as much as $250,000, while personal property, including renters’ belongings, may qualify for up to $100,000. Commercial buildings and their contents each have a $500,000 limit.
- wowo.com