What does flood insurance typically exclude?

Flood insurance is specifically designed to cover damage resulting from flooding, which is defined as an overflow of water onto normally dry land. However, it does come with various exclusions. One significant exclusion is damage caused by earthquakes.

When an earthquake occurs, it can lead to significant ground movement and potential for secondary effects such as tsunamis or landslides that might then result in flooding. Because earthquake damage and flood damage arise from distinct events and mechanisms, flood insurance policies typically do not cover losses resulting from earthquakes.

This focus on the specifics of flood-related perils highlights the need for additional coverage options, such as earthquake insurance, to address potential losses from seismic events. Understanding these distinctions is essential for proper risk management and ensuring comprehensive coverage for property owners. However, it is not unusual for policies to exclude other types of damage, such as damage from fires, normal wear and tear, and liability claims, but in the context of flood insurance, earthquake damage stands out as a primary exclusion.