Flood insurance

Overview
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What is flood insurance?

Flood insurance¹ helps cover physical damage to your home and belongings from floods or related losses from rising water. You can purchase a government-run National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy through an Allstate agent.

Do I need flood insurance?

Yes, you should consider getting flood insurance to protect your home and your personal belongings in the event of a flood. Although some home lenders don’t require flood insurance, FEMA recommends flood insurance for every home in the U.S.

When you purchase an NFIP flood policy through an Allstate agent, you're helping to protect yourself from the financial burden flooding can cause. In fact, just one inch of water in a home can cost more than $25,000 in damage. Instead of paying out of pocket or taking out loans to cover your expenses, flood insurance can help make the recovery process quicker, easier and less costly.

What's covered by flood insurance?

When it comes to flood insurance, you can choose from two types of coverage: building property (structure) and personal property (contents).

Building property coverage
Provides coverage for the physical structure of your home or non-resident property, including electrical and plumbing systems, refrigerators, window blinds and more.

Personal property (contents) coverage
Provides coverage for the items inside your home, like clothing, furniture, microwaves and televisions, at their value at the time of loss.

Flood insurance options

National Flood Insurance Program

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a federal program administered by FEMA.
get an NFIP quote

make sure your home is covered

Help protect your house and belongings by purchasing a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy. Get an online quote or talk to an agent about NFIP

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What's not covered by flood insurance?

While there’s a lot that flood insurance covers, here are a few examples of what may not be covered:

  • Damage caused by moisture, mildew or mold that could have been avoided by the property owner
  • Currency, precious metals and valuable papers like stock certificates
  • Property and belongings outside of a building like trees, fences and swimming pools
  • Living expenses like temporary housing

Flood insurance FAQs

No. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance must be purchased separately.

No. Flood insurance policies typically have a waiting period (usually 30 days) before coverage takes effect, so you can’t buy it once a storm is already approaching.

Private flood insurance often provides higher coverage limits, broader protection, and more flexibility than the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

  • NFIP coverage caps at $250,000 for the structure and $100,000 for contents
  • NFIP does not cover belongings stored in basements
  • Private policies may offer higher limits, better contents coverage, and shorter waiting periods

You can check your flood zone using FEMA’s Flood Map. These maps identify whether your home is in a high-risk zone (A or V) or a low- to moderate-risk area.

Yes. Every property has some flood risk—only the level of risk changes.

  • 1 in 3 flood insurance claims come from low- and moderate-risk zones
  • “Undetermined risk” doesn’t mean no risk—it means the analysis isn’t complete
  • Flood zones and maps change, so it’s smart to review your risk annually

While flood insurance may not be legally required outside high-risk zones, it is strongly recommended to ensure faster recovery and financial protection after a flood.

¹Subject to National Flood Insurance Program terms, conditions and availability. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). NFIP flood policies are underwritten by the federal government and sold and administered by private insurance companies like Allstate through the Write Your Own (WYO) Program. © 2026 Allstate Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL.


Insurance, coverage and discounts are subject to terms and conditions, which may vary by state. Discount amounts and total savings will vary. Other terms, conditions and exclusions may apply.