Quick learning: Check your policy
About this video
Homeowners insurance usually covers water that comes from above, like rain through a damaged roof, but not floods, where water rises from the ground. Flood insurance is separate, often from the National Flood Insurance Program, and has a 30-day waiting period, so check your policy now.
You'll be able to
- explain the difference between water damage from above and a flood.
- explain why flood insurance must be bought ahead of time.
Key words
- Homeowners insurance
- Insurance on your home that covers many kinds of damage, but usually not floods.
- Flood
- Water that rises from the ground, such as storm surge or pooling water.
- Flood insurance
- Separate insurance for flood damage, often through the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Waiting period
- Time after buying a policy before it starts to cover you; 30 days for flood insurance here.
Transcript
- This is how you can lose everything and insurance still won't pay. It happened on my street during Hurricane Helene. If water hits your house from above, like rain through a roof or broken window, homeowners insurance usually covers it. But if water rises from the ground, like storm surge, or water pooling, that's a flood.
And homeowners insurance doesn't cover floods. So where the water comes in is everything. Flood insurance is separate. Most people get it from the National Flood Insurance Program. But there's a 30-day waiting period. So, check your policy today. Look for the word "flood."
If it's not there, you're probably not covered.
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