Everything You Need to Know About Flood Insurance in Texas
If your house is in a flood zone in parts of Texas, you may be required to have flood insurance.
While
Texas
doesn’t require you to have flood insurance coverage for your home, some mortgage lenders might require it if you’re buying a house in a flood zone. Typical homeowners insurance policies cover
named perils
—or some of the most common occurrences that cause damage to homes. However, one of the most common natural disasters in the US isn’t covered under most policies—flooding. Since flooding can damage multiple property structures, most companies think it’s too risky and expensive to cover.Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t realize flooding isn’t covered under their policy, so few purchase separate flooding protection. And in a state like Texas that sees severe weather annually, it’s a good idea to know your flood coverage options.
It’s crucial to know what your homeowners insurance policy covers and how flood insurance works in your particular state. That’s why insurance brokerage app
Jerry
put together this guide with everything you need to know about flood insurance in Texas. Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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What is flood insurance?
Flood insurance is a type of policy separate from your regular homeowners insurance that covers water damage to your house, belongings, or separate structures on your property, specifically from flooding.
Regular homeowners policies cover water damage from plumbing issues, like a pipe that bursts suddenly. But flooding from natural disasters, like a severe storm, isn’t covered unless you have a separate policy.
What does flood insurance cover?
Flood insurance comes in two varieties:
- Building coverage, which protects your primary home structure and other structures on your property
- Contents coverage, which protects most of the contents of those structures
It’s important to keep in mind that flood insurance does have limitations. There are some objects in your home and situations that it won’t cover either.
Here’s a breakdown of what flood insurance does and does not cover:
Type of coverage | What it covers | What it doesn’t cover |
|---|---|---|
Building | Electrical and plumbing systems
Water heaters and furnaces
Large appliances like dishwashers or refrigerators
Permanently installed bookcases, cabinets, and paneling
Permanently installed carpets
Window blinds
Foundational walls, staircases, and anchorages
Detached garages
Fuel tanks, solar panels, and well water tanks/pumps | Decks and patios
Swimming pools
Fences and landscaping |
Contents | Clothing
Furniture
Electronic equipment
Curtains
Washing machine and dryer
Portable air conditioners, including window units
Carpets not included in building coverage
Valuables such as artwork up to $2,500 | Valuable papers
Currency
Anything stored in a basement |
Do you need flood insurance in Texas?
In short—maybe.
Texas doesn’t require flood insurance by law. However, in some high-risk flood areas, mortgage lenders may require homeowners to maintain a separate flood insurance policy.
Even if your mortgage lender doesn’t require you to have flood insurance, it’s a good idea to have flooding coverage—especially in Texas, which sees hurricanes and tropical storms every year.
Texas sees some of the highest rates of property damage due to flooding in the nation, and one in four flood losses occurs in areas that aren’t considered high flood risks. In the
Houston
area alone, 32% of all properties are considered at high risk for flood damage, yet only around 13% of Texas homeowners have flood insurance policies.What flood zones require flood insurance in Texas?
FEMA uses flood maps and a letter grading system for flood zones to determine if an area is high risk or not. Mortgage lenders and insurance companies will use these designations to determine flood risk and insurance policies.
- High-risk zones are labeled A or V
- Moderate risk zones are B or X
- Low-risk zones are C
If you want to determine if your house is in a flood zone, you can use FEMA’s
Flood Map Service Center
or Flood Factor®
. How much does flood insurance cost in Texas?
The national average cost of flood insurance is $739 per year. The average cost of flood insurance in Texas, however, is lower at just $624 a year.
The cost of your flood insurance policy can vary as it depends on where your home is located and how much coverage you purchase. For residential customers, you can get up to $250,000 in building coverage and $100,000 for contents coverage.
How to save money on flood and auto insurance in Texas
If you want to lower your flood insurance premiums in Texas, you can do the following:
- Follow FEMA’srecommended flood risk mitigation practices
- Choose a higher deductible
- Choose contents-only coverage
Keep in mind that flood insurance covers building structures and contents—it does not cover flood damage to your vehicles. To make sure your home and vehicles are protected, use the
Jerry
app to compare quotes on car insurance
policies that include flood coverage.In less than a minute, Jerry will compare rates from over 50 top insurance companies to find coverage that fits your specific needs and your budget. And if you want to save even more, consider
bundling
your home and auto insurance together for discounts on both. “A seamless process and a fantastic app!Jerrysaved me over $2000 on car insurance. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.” —Osvaldo B.
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