Does my homeowners policy cover flood damage?

No. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood damage. This is one of the most important things every Georgia homeowner should understand, because flooding is specifically excluded from nearly all homeowners policies and must be covered separately.

Your homeowners policy covers many kinds of water damage, like a burst pipe or a roof leak from a storm, but it draws a hard line at flooding. Flooding means rising water from outside the home: overflowing rivers and creeks, heavy rainfall that pools and enters the house, or storm surge. That type of loss is an exclusion on a homeowners policy.

To be protected, you need separate flood insurance, either through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer. This is true even if you are not in a high-risk flood zone, since a large share of flood claims come from areas considered low or moderate risk.

For example, suppose heavy rain causes a nearby creek in your Gwinnett County neighborhood to overflow, sending two feet of water through your first floor and causing $40,000 in damage. Your homeowners policy would deny the claim because it was a flood. A separate flood policy would cover it.

Do not assume you are covered just because you have homeowners insurance. To add the flood protection your home needs, start a free coverage review at /coverage-review/.