New York Flood Insurance
Find the right flood insurance policy for you.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
New York is bordered on one side by the Atlantic Ocean and on the other by Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Within the state are also the Finger Lakes, Lake Oneida and many rivers and tributaries that feed them. While providing beautiful scenery and great locations for water recreation, lakes and rivers also create several flood zones throughout the state. When tropical storms, hurricanes or even tornados strike, flooding almost always follows. Protect yourself with New York flood insurance.
A Trusted Choice® independent agent can help you obtain a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). With more than 22,000 member agency locations nationwide, it is easy to find an agent based in your neighborhood who is familiar with the flood risks you face. Contact an agent today to learn more about flood insurance and receive New York flood insurance quotes.
Save on Flood Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Flood Facts for New York State
- NY had the 2nd highest number of flood claims in the country
- Residents filed a total of 17,035 flood claims
- These claims resulted in $505,807,818 in payouts
- The average flood claim in New York was $29,692
These figures show you just how much flooding damage can cost. Since 2005, 11 floods have been extensive enough for New York to declare a major disaster and request assistance from FEMA.
New York is particularly vulnerable to flooding, not only because of the large bodies of water that surround it, but also because of heavy snowfalls in the winter. When snow melts, it causes river, creek, and stream water levels to rise. Since the ground is already saturated, rising waters in early spring often lead to flooding in homes.
Who Is Required to Purchase New York Flood Insurance?
If you live in a FEMA designated flood zone, your mortgage provider will likely require you to carry flood insurance. All federally regulated and insured lenders require this coverage. FEMA is redrawing flood maps for parts of Eastern New York, and several more homes and business will soon be required to carry this insurance coverage.
Why Purchase a Policy?
Even if you do no live in a high-risk area, flood insurance is the only way to receive compensation for flood damage to your home. In fact, a surprising 20% of all flood claims are filed by people who live outside designated flood zones. In New York, many people began looking into flood insurance coverage after Hurricane Sandy caused so much flood damage.
Many people think that their homeowners insurance policy will provide compensation for damages, but nearly all policies have exceptions for flood damage. Only an NFIP flood insurance policy can provide this coverage for you. Do not be fooled into believing that you can count on assistance from FEMA for damage repairs. FEMA assistance comes in the form of low-interest loans that must be repaid. It is not an insurance policy.
Is New York Flood Insurance Expensive?
Because all flood insurance policies are provided through the NFIP, rates are relatively standard. How much your policy will cost depends on how much coverage you purchase and what type of coverage you purchase. You have the option of purchasing insurance for the building structure only, your personal property only or both.
If you are a renter, contents coverage is all you need. If you are a landlord, purchasing only structure coverage should suffice. People in low-risk zones are most likely to have flood damage contained to the basement, and because flood insurance does not cover contents in the basement other than major appliances that are normally kept there, structure coverage may also be adequate on its own.
Save on Flood Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Approximate Annual Cost for $35,000 Structural and $10,000 Contents Coverage
- High flood-risk zone – structure only: $457
- Low flood-risk zone – structure only: $381
- High flood-risk zone – contents only: $186
- Low flood-risk zone – contents only: $163
- High flood-risk zone – structure and contents: $580
- Low flood-risk zone – structure and contents: $527
You can purchase as much as $250,000 in structural coverage and $100,000 in contents coverage. An independent agent in the Trusted Choice network can help you best determine your coverage needs.
How to Acquire a New York Flood Insurance Policy
Because flood insurance is provided by the government, you cannot be turned down for a policy just because you have filed claims in the past or because you live in a high-risk area. This insurance cannot be purchased directly from the government. Instead, you must go through an insurance company. An independent agent in the Trusted Choice network can help you determine how much coverage you need, and can find you a policy that meets your budgetary requirements.
Your local Trusted Choice member agent can do more than just help you find your flood insurance policy. Your agent may also be able to help you save money on your other insurance policies and will even advocate for you if you file a claim. Find an independent agent in your neighborhood and obtain New York flood insurance quotes.