When people think of flooding and flood insurance, they often think of coastal or lakefront properties. Though these properties are at a greater risk for water damage overall, more inland areas are severely damaged by heavy rains. Does my NH homeowner's insurance cover rain damage? Do I need flood insurance? Here’s a look at how rain is often covered by property insurance.

Does Insurance Cover Rain Damage?

Not to be too nerdy, but all insurance is guided by the policy (aka the contract.). To determine if a property policy would cover flood damage, you need to refer to the definition of flood, which, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is as follows:

"A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of 2 or more acres of normally dry land area or of 2 or more properties (at least 1 of which is the policyholder's property from:

• overflow of inland or tidal water, or
• unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source..."

You would then want to review your specific policy and see if either flood is covered or excluded. (Spoiler alert- nearly all property policies specifically exclude "water damage... flood, surface water... which backs up through sewer or drains or which overflows from a sump, or water below the surface of the ground including water which exerts pressure on or seeps or leaks through a building...")

Unfortunately, should heavy rainfall damage your property, your home insurance would likely not cover any repairs or clean-up.

The Role of Flood Insurance

Flood insurance can be a remedy to cover the ever-increasing damage caused by heavy rains. The good news is that now more than ever, private insurance companies are writing flood insurance, which was once only written by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Private insurance provides coverage and pricing options that were severely limited just a few years ago.

FEMA and private insurance companies rely on data pulled from mapping flood zones, with proximity to large bodies of water as a significant factor in pricing. If you are inland but still concerned about damage from flash floods and heavy rains, flood insurance is often affordable protection.

Other Issues to Consider When Thinking about Heavy Rain and Flooding

No one wants to buy something they don't need, but given how quickly water can rise and damage a homes' infrastructure and major systems, it is at least worth getting a quote.

There are also some basic flood protections you can do before the rain starts to fall, as found in FEMA's Protect Your Home from Flooding brochure, including:

• Elevate major appliances kept below ground
• Prevent sewer backups by having a plumber install sewer backflow valves 
• Maintain proper water runoff and drainage
• Anchor outdoor fuel tank

Protect Your New Hampshire Home and Against Rain Damage

The best protection against rain damage usually comes through a combination of homeowners insurance and flood insurance. To find a homeowners policy and flood policy that’ll work together to protect your New Hampshire home against various causes of rain damage, contact us at HPM Insurance.