The Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) Forms contain complete definitions of the coverages they provide. Direct physical losses by "flood" are covered. Also covered are losses resulting from flood-related erosion caused by waves or currents of water activity exceeding anticipated cyclical levels, or caused by a severe storm, flash flood, abnormal tidal surge, or the like, which result in flooding, as defined. Damage caused by mudflows, as specifically defined in the policy forms, is covered.

• Additional Living Expense (i.e. ALE) coverage is not included as part of flood insurance.
• Sewer backup or seepage of water is not covered unless the property is, at the same time, damaged by flood.
• Water or moisture damage resulting from a condition primarily confined to the insured building.
• Losses caused by the insured's failure to use reasonable means to preserve property after a flood.
• A loss already in progress at the time a policy goes into effect.
• A loss caused by off premises power failure.
• Financial losses caused by business interruption or loss of use of insured property.
• Law and Ordinance

The following is insured under building property coverage:

• The insured building and its foundation
• The electrical and plumbing systems
• Central air conditioning equipment, furnaces, and water heaters
• Refrigerators, cooking stoves, and built-in appliances such as dishwashers
• Permanently installed carpeting over an unfinished floor
• Permanently installed paneling, wallboard, bookcases, and cabinets
• Window blinds
• Detached garages (up to 10 percent of building property coverage).Detached buildings (other than garages) require a separate building property policy
• Debris removal

• Personal belongings such as clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment.
• Curtains.
• Portable and window air conditioners.
• Portable microwave ovens and portable dishwashers.
• Carpets not included in building coverage
• Clothes washers and dryers.
• Food freezers and the food in them.
• Certain valuable items such as:
  • artwork, photographs, collectibles, or
  • memorabilia, including but not limited to, porcelain or other figures, and sports cards;
  • Rare books or autographed items;
  • Jewelry, watches, precious and semiprecious stones, or articles of gold, silver, or platinum;

  • Furs or any article containing fur which represents its principal value.

(These valuable items carry an aggregate limit of $2,500.)

• Accounts, bills, deeds, evidences of debt, money, coins, postage stamps, manuscripts, etc.
• Fences, piers, seawalls, outdoor swimming pools, bulkheads, wharves, bridges, docks, boat houses on or over water.
• Land values, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, growing crops, livestock, animals, birds, fish.
• Walks, driveways, and paved surfaces outside building foundation walls.
• Motor vehicles (with exceptions), aircraft, watercraft.

In addition, there are very important exclusions regarding contents and machinery, equipment, fixtures, etc., located at an elevation lower than the lowest elevated floor of a building.

Coverage is provided for foundation elements, including posts, pilings, piers, or other support systems for elevated buildings. Coverage also is available for basement and enclosure utility connections, certain mechanical equipment necessary for the habitability of the building, such as furnaces, hot water heaters, clothes washers and dryers, food freezers and the food in them, air conditioners, heat pumps, electrical junctions, and circuit breaker boxes. Finished structural elements such as paneling and linoleum, and contents items such as rugs and furniture are not covered. Visit the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) website for the details on Basement Coverage.

Under certain circumstances. Subsidence of land along a lake shore or similar body of water which results from the erosion or undermining of the shoreline caused by waves or currents of water exceeding cyclical levels that result in a flood is covered. All other land subsidence is excluded. There is no coverage for loss caused directly or indirectly by any of the following:

• Backups through sewers or drains;
• Discharges or overflows from a sump, sump pump, or related equipment;
• Seepage or leaks on or through the covered property; unless there is a general condition of flooding in the area and the flood is the proximate cause of the sewer or drain backup, sump pump discharge or overflow, or seepage of water.

Only for single-family dwellings and residential condominium buildings, if several criteria are met. Replacement cost coverage is available for a single-family dwelling, including a residential condominium unit that is the policyholder's principal residence and is insured for at least 80 percent of the unit's replacement cost at the time of the loss, up to the maximum amount of insurance available at the inception of the policy term. Replacement cost coverage does not apply to manufactured (i.e., mobile) homes smaller than certain dimensions specified in the policy. Losses are adjusted on a replacement cost basis for residential condominium buildings insured under the Residential Condominium Building Association Policy (RCBAP). The principal residence and the 80 percent insurance to value requirements for single-family dwellings do not apply to the RCBAP. However, coverage amounts less than 80 percent of the building's full replacement cost value at the time of loss will be subject to a co-insurance penalty.

Contents losses are always adjusted on an actual cash value basis. If the replacement cost conditions are not met, the building loss is also adjusted on an actual cash value basis. Actual cash value means the replacement cost minus depreciation.

No. The policy only covers direct physical flood damage to the dwelling and does not provide additional living expenses.

Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage under the Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) covers the cost to comply with State or community floodplain management laws or ordinances from a flood event in which a building has been declared substantially damaged or repetitively damaged. When an insured building is damaged by a flood and the State or community declares the building to be substantially damaged or repetitively damaged, ICC coverage will help pay for the cost to elevate, floodproof, demolish, or relocate the building up to a maximum benefit of $30,000. This coverage is in addition to the building coverage for the repair of actual physical damages from flood under the SFIP. If the claim is paid up to the policy limit of $250,000, then no money is available for the ICC claim. If only a partial limit is used to pay the claim, then the ICC coverage will pay up to the remaining limit. For example, if the policy limit is $250,000, and the claim paid is $2220,000, then $30,000 is still available to pay the ICC.

A flood insurance policyholder should immediately report any flood loss to the insurance company or agent who wrote the policy. A claims adjuster will be assigned the loss, and the policyholder must file a "proof of loss" within 60 days of the date of loss. You can contact the NFIP at 877-336-2627 or visit NFIP'S Direct Servicing Agent to report a claim.

A proof of loss-the policyholder's valuation of claimed damages - is a sworn statement made by the policyholder that substantiates the insurance claim and is required to be submitted to the NFIP or WYO company within 60 days of the loss. A printed form usually is available from the adjuster assigned to the claim.

NFIP Summary of Coverage

NFIP Claims Handbook

Flood Insurance Overview