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Personal Insurance / Flood

Flood Insurance

This is the coverage people discover they do not have on the worst possible day. A standard homeowners policy excludes flood entirely, and flood means water that rises and comes in from outside. Northeastern Pennsylvania has the Lackawanna, the Susquehanna, and a great many creeks that behave badly in a heavy spring.

What It Covers

The parts of the policy, in plain terms.

  • Building coverage

    The structure, its foundation, electrical and plumbing systems, furnace and water heater, and permanently installed fixtures.

  • Contents coverage

    Your belongings, purchased separately from building coverage. Carrying one without the other is a common and expensive mistake.

  • Basement limits

    Flood policies treat basements restrictively. Finished walls, flooring and most personal property below grade are limited or excluded, which is worth knowing before you finish one.

How it plays out

Three days of rain saturates the ground, a creek two streets over comes up, and eight inches of water sits in your basement long enough to take out the furnace and the water heater. Your homeowners policy does not respond to any of it. A flood policy does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Flood Insurance questions we get.

I am not in a flood zone. Do I still need it?
A meaningful share of flood claims come from outside high-risk zones. Being near a creek, in a low spot, or downhill from a lot of runoff is enough. Flood maps also change. Checking your specific address is worth the five minutes.
How long before flood coverage starts?
Typically 30 days from purchase, with narrow exceptions such as a policy bought in connection with a mortgage closing. Plan for the wait rather than around it.
Does flood insurance cover a finished basement?
Only partially. Flood policies limit what they will pay below grade, and personal property in a basement is largely excluded. If you are planning to finish one, ask about this first, because the answer may change how you use the space.
Is flood insurance required?
If your home is in a high-risk zone and you have a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require it. Outside those zones it is optional, which is exactly why so many people find out too late.

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Let's get you a real number.

Tell us what you're insuring and David will shop it across our carriers. No obligation, and no pressure if your current policy turns out to be the better deal.

Independent agency / 10 carriers on file