Contents coverage is the part of a flood insurance policy that pays for flood damage to your personal belongings: furniture, clothing, electronics, appliances that are not built in, and other movable property. It is a separate limit from building coverage, which covers the structure.
A renter in a flood-prone area typically needs contents coverage only, since the building is the landlord's responsibility.
Example: a flash flood soaks a ground-floor apartment, ruining a couch, a bed, and a television. Contents coverage reimburses the tenant for the damaged belongings up to the policy limit.
Related: building coverage, NFIP, personal property coverage. See the flood insurance overview.