NC State Extension Publications

How the NFIP Works

Skip to How the NFIP Works

Who needs flood insurance? Everyone does, and everyone in a participating community of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can buy flood insurance. More than 18,000 communities nationwide have joined the program.

In some instances, people have been told that they cannot buy flood insurance because of where they live. To clear up this and other misconceptions about federal flood insurance, the NFIP has compiled the following list of common myths about the program and the real facts behind them.

MYTH #1: You Can’t Buy Flood Insurance if You Are Located in a High-Risk Area

Skip to MYTH #1: You Can’t Buy Flood Insurance if You Are Located in a High-Risk Area

The facts: You can buy federal flood insurance no matter where you live if your community belongs to the NFIP, except in Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) areas. The program was created in 1968 to provide affordable flood insurance to people who live in areas, called Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), with the greatest risk of flooding. In fact, under the National Flood Insurance Act lenders must require borrowers whose property is located within an SFHA to purchase flood insurance as a condition of receiving a federally-backed mortgage loan. There is an exemption for conventional loans on properties within CBRS areas. Lenders should notify borrowers that their property is located in an SFHA and that affordable federal flood insurance is available.

MYTH #2: You Can’t Buy Flood Insurance Immediately Before or During a Flood

Skip to MYTH #2: You Can’t Buy Flood Insurance Immediately Before or During a Flood

The facts: You can purchase flood coverage at any time. There is a 30-day waiting period after you’ve applied and paid the premium before the policy is effective, with the following exceptions:

  • If the initial purchase of flood insurance is in connection with the making, increasing, extending, or renewing of a loan, there is no waiting period. The coverage becomes effective at the time of the loan, provided application and presentment of premium is made at or before loan closing.
  • If the initial purchase of flood insurance is made during the 1-year period following the issuance of a revised flood map for a community, there is a 1-day waiting period. The policy does not cover a “loss in progress“ defined by the NFIP as a loss occurring as of 12:01 a.m. on the first day of the policy term. You also cannot increase the amount of insurance coverage you have during a loss in progress.

MYTH #3: Homeowner’s Insurance Policies Cover Flooding

Skip to MYTH #3: Homeowner’s Insurance Policies Cover Flooding

The facts: Unfortunately, many homeowners do not find out until it is too late that their homeowners’ policies do not cover flooding. Federal flood insurance protects your home and belongings.

MYTH #4: Flood Insurance Is Only Available for Homeowners

Skip to MYTH #4: Flood Insurance Is Only Available for Homeowners

The facts: Flood insurance can protect homes, condominiums, apartments, and non-residential buildings, including commercial structures. A maximum of $250,000 of building coverage is available for single-family residential buildings; $250,000 is available per unit for multifamily residences. The limit for contents coverage on all residential buildings is $100,000. Coverage for contents is also available to renters. Commercial structures can be insured to a limit of $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for the contents.

MYTH #5: You Can’t Buy Flood Insurance if Your Property Has Been Flooded

Skip to MYTH #5: You Can’t Buy Flood Insurance if Your Property Has Been Flooded

The facts: It doesn’t matter how many times your home, apartment, or business has been flooded. You are still eligible to purchase flood insurance provided your community is participating in the NFIP.

MYTH #6: Only Residents of High-Risk Flood Zones Need to Insure Their Property

Skip to MYTH #6: Only Residents of High-Risk Flood Zones Need to Insure Their Property

The facts: Even if your area is not flood-prone, flood insurance is advisable. One-third of the NFIP’s claims come from such areas. The NFIP’s Preferred Risk Policy costs an average of $352 a year for residential properties in low-to-moderate flood risk zones.

MYTH #7: The NFIP Does Not Offer Any Type of Basement Coverage

Skip to MYTH #7: The NFIP Does Not Offer Any Type of Basement Coverage

The facts: Yes, it does. The NFIP defines a basement as any area of a building with a floor that is subgrade, or below ground level on all sides. Basement coverage under an NFIP policy includes cleanup expenses and items used to service the building, such as elevators, furnaces, hot water heaters, washers and dryers, air conditioners, freezers, utility connections, circuit breaker boxes, pumps, and tanks used in solar energy systems. The policy does not cover the contents of a finished basement or improvements, such as finished walls, floors and ceilings.

MYTH #8: Federal Disaster Assistance Will Pay for Flood Damage

Skip to MYTH #8: Federal Disaster Assistance Will Pay for Flood Damage

The facts: Before a community is eligible for disaster assistance, it must be declared a federal disaster area. A federal disaster is declared in less than 50 percent of flooding incidents. The annual premium for an NFIP policy, averaging about $300 a year, is less expensive than interest on federal disaster loans even though they are always granted on favorable terms. Furthermore, if you are uninsured and receive federal disaster assistance after a flood, you must purchase flood insurance to receive disaster relief in the future.

MYTH #9: The NFIP Encourages Coastal Development

Skip to MYTH #9: The NFIP Encourages Coastal Development

The facts: One of the NFIP’s primary objectives is to guide development away from high flood-risk areas. NFIP regulations minimize the impact of structures that are built in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) by requiring them not to cause obstructions to the natural flow of floodwaters. Also, as a condition of community participation in the NFIP, those structures built within SFHAs must adhere to strict floodplain management regulations. In addition, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982 relies on the NFIP to discourage building in the fragile coastal areas covered by CBRA by prohibiting the sale of flood insurance in designated CBRA areas. These laws do not prohibit property owners from building along coastal areas; however, they do transfer the financial risk of such building from federal taxpayers to those who choose to live or invest in these areas.

MYTH #10: Federal Flood Insurance Can Only Be Purchased Through the NFIP Directly

Skip to MYTH #10: Federal Flood Insurance Can Only Be Purchased Through the NFIP Directly

The facts: Federal flood insurance is sold and serviced directly through the NFIP or through a write-your-own (WYO) company. WYO companies write and service policies on a non-risk-bearing basis through a special arrangement with the Federal Insurance Administration.

MYTH #11: The NFIP Does Not Cover Flooding Resulting From Hurricanes or the Overflow of Rivers or Tidal Waters

Skip to MYTH #11: The NFIP Does Not Cover Flooding Resulting From Hurricanes or the Overflow of Rivers or Tidal Waters

The facts: The NFIP defines covered flooding as a general and temporary condition during which the surface of normally dry land is partially or completely inundated. Two adjacent properties or 2 or more acres must be affected. Flooding can be caused by any one of the following:

  • Overflow of inland or tidal waters.
  • Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, such as heavy rainfall.
  • Mudslides or mudflows caused by flooding which are comparable to a river of liquid and flowing mud.
  • Collapse or destabilization of land along the lakeshore or other body of water resulting from erosion or the effect of waves.
  • Water currents exceeding normal, cyclical levels.

MYTH #12: Wind-Driven Rain Is Considered Flooding

Skip to MYTH #12: Wind-Driven Rain Is Considered Flooding

The facts: Rain entering through wind-damaged windows, doors, or a hole in a wall or the roof resulting in standing water or puddles is considered windstorm rather than flood damage. Federal flood insurance only covers damage caused by the general condition of flooding (defined above) typically caused by storm surge wave wash, tidal waves, or the overflow of any body of water above normal cyclical levels. Buildings which sustain this type of damage usually have a watermark showing how high the water has risen before it subsides. Although the Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) specifically excludes wind and hail coverage, most homeowners’ policies provide coverage. For more detailed information on NFIP visit their website or call 888-CALL-FLOOD ext. 445, (TDD 800-427-5593).

For More Information

Skip to For More Information

For more information on disaster preparedness and recovery visit the NC Disaster Information Center.

Prepared by Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Flood Insurance Program.

Find more information at the following NC State Extension websites:

Publication date: June 4, 2014

N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation and veteran status.