Flood Insurance
Flood insurance covers damage from rising water, which standard homeowners policies do not cover at all. In Palm Beach County that means storm surge on the coast, and heavy rain and drainage backups inland. We quote flood through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private flood carriers, usually at the same time as your homeowners policy.
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What pays when water gets in
Homeowners and flood split water damage by where the water comes from. Most Florida homes need both to be fully covered.
| What happened | Homeowners | Flood |
|---|---|---|
| Storm surge pushed ashore by a hurricane | Not covered | Covered |
| Heavy rain that floods the street and comes inside | Not covered | Covered |
| Rain blown in through a roof damaged by windUsually under the hurricane deductible | Covered | Not covered |
| A pipe that bursts inside the house | Covered | Not covered |
| Wind tearing off shingles or breaking windows | Covered | Not covered |
What's covered
Tap any item to see what it means in plain language.
Building
The structure and what is built into it, like the foundation, electrical and plumbing systems, water heater, built-in appliances, and permanently installed flooring. NFIP policies cover up to $250,000 for a home; private flood policies can go higher.
Contents
Your belongings, like furniture, clothing, and electronics, damaged by flood water. On an NFIP policy contents is a separate coverage you choose, up to $100,000, so make sure it is on the quote.
Debris removal and loss avoidance
Cleaning up after a flood, and reasonable costs to protect the property when a flood is coming, like sandbags or moving belongings to safety.
Storm surge
Ocean water pushed ashore by a hurricane is flood, not wind. It is one of the biggest sources of hurricane damage in coastal Palm Beach County, and only a flood policy covers it.
What's not covered
Flood under a homeowners policy
Standard homeowners policies exclude rising water entirely. Without a separate flood policy, flood damage is not covered, no matter how good the rest of the policy is.
Damage from moisture or mold you could have prevented
Long-term seepage, humidity, or mold that was not caused by a flood event is maintenance, not a flood claim.
Temporary housing on an NFIP policy
NFIP policies do not pay for a hotel or rent while your home is repaired. Some private flood policies do, which is one reason to compare both.
Your car
A flooded vehicle is covered by the comprehensive coverage on your auto policy, not by flood insurance.
Good to know in Florida
If your home is in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (zones starting with A or V) and you have a federally backed mortgage, your lender requires flood insurance.
More than one in five flood claims comes from outside the high-risk zones. Inland Palm Beach County floods from heavy rain and drainage backups, not only from the coast.
NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start, so buy before hurricane season rather than when a storm is in the forecast. A policy bought at a mortgage closing can start right away.
Citizens Property Insurance now requires flood coverage on its homeowners policies, phased in by home value through 2027. If Citizens insures your home, ask us whether the requirement applies to you yet.
West Palm Beach and Royal Palm Beach both take part in FEMA's Community Rating System, which lowers NFIP premiums for their residents. West Palm Beach reports a Class 5 rating: a 25% discount on NFIP policies in the city. Look for it on your bill.
To find your flood zone, enter your address in Palm Beach County's online flood zone map. In West Palm Beach you can also call the city at 561-805-6705. Send us the zone with your quote request and we will do the rest.
How our quoting works
Tell us about it
Online or by phone, in English or Spanish.
We compare carriers
Real quotes from the carriers that fit, not just one.
An agent reviews it with you
A licensed Florida agent walks you through it before you buy.
Flood is quoted best together with your home. We compare the NFIP against private flood carriers, look at your flood zone and elevation, and line the flood policy up with your homeowners policy so there are no gaps between them.
Helpful to have handy
- The property address
- Year built and the type of foundation
- An elevation certificate, if you have one
- Your current homeowners or flood declarations page
- Your mortgage lender, if the loan requires flood coverage
Don't have all of it? Start anyway. We'll work with what you have.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a waiting period before flood insurance starts?
Usually, yes. National Flood Insurance Program policies generally take effect 30 days after purchase, with a few exceptions, such as coverage bought when you close on a home loan. Private flood policies set their own waiting periods. Don't wait for a storm to be named before you buy.
Do I need flood insurance if I'm not in a high-risk flood zone?
Your lender may not require it, but flooding doesn't follow zone lines. FEMA reports that a large share of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones, and coverage there is often more affordable. We can quote it alongside your homeowners policy.
Does flood insurance cover my belongings?
Only if you add contents coverage. Flood policies cover the building and your belongings separately, so make sure your quote includes both if you want furniture, clothing, and electronics protected.
My home is insured with Citizens. Do I need flood insurance?
Florida law is phasing in a requirement for Citizens homeowners policyholders to also carry flood coverage, based on the home's value and the policy's renewal date. We can check where your policy falls and quote flood coverage that satisfies it.