Recent events have brought flood insurance to the forefront of people’s minds all over the country. Even if you don’t live in an area that is prone to flooding because of extreme weather events, it is still wise to have a flood insurance policy to protect your home and your family. At Morin Insurance, we are committed to giving our customers all the information they need to select the best and most affordable insurance plans, including NH flood insurance.
Let us answer some frequently asked questions about NH flood insurance.
Is flood insurance included in my home insurance?
Probably not. Most home insurance policies include some coverage for water damage from rain, but not flooding. If you live near a river, lake, or other body of water that could rise and flood your home, your current insurance plan may not cover it. Extra coverage is almost always required to protect against those eventualities. Depending on where you live, flood insurance may be a condition of your mortgage.
Who provides flood insurance?
Different insurance agencies can handle it differently, but most flood insurance is purchased from the National Flood Insurance Company (NFIP). NFIP is a federally-regulated program that offers two types of coverage: building and contents.
What’s the difference between building and contents coverage?
The two types of coverage are more or less what they say they are. Building coverage covers the house itself, while contents coverage covers what’s inside it. It is important to know, however, what counts as part of the building and what NFIP considers contents.
Anything that is physically attached to the house falls under building coverage. This includes permanent carpets, attached cabinets and shelving, large appliances like refrigerators and stoves, and plumbing, heating, and electrical systems. Contents coverage covers your personal belongings and appliances that are not built in. Your furniture, clothing, and appliances like your washer and dryer or microwave all count as contents.
How do I know what will be covered by flood insurance?
The thing that matters most when it comes to flood insurance is whether or not the damage or loss of property is directly due to flooding. And that hangs on the definition of flood. The simplest definition of a flood is an excess of water in a place that is normally dry.
