Ethica Burt moved into a ground-level apartment with a basement in Astoria, Queens, last summer. With just a few blocks between her home and the East River, she worried about flooding.
Her home is not in the floodplain, nor is her block at risk of flooding from stormwater, according to city maps. But Burt, 30, wanted to be extra safe.
She set out to get flood insurance, but as a renter, ran into some issues.
“The process is very convoluted,” said Burt. “I’m kind of in a limbo right now.”
While homeowners with federally backed mortgages who live in the floodplain are required to carry flood insurance, renters are not. Still, depending on where they live, renters might want to consider getting flood insurance if they’re at risk of getting flooded.
Without a specific kind of flood insurance, renters’ belongings, if damaged, would not be covered.
Renters can purchase a type of flood insurance known as “contents coverage” to protect personal property. Homeowners can buy another type of flood insurance that covers the structure of the building or home.
Some landlords may opt to purchase flood insurance in addition to their required coverage that would cover their tenants’ belongings — which you can ask about — but they’re not required to.
Tenants: Read on to better understand how to take steps toward buying insurance that would cover your belongings in case of a flood.
How do I know if flood insurance is something I need?
A clue might be on your lease. Thanks to a state law that went into effect last June, landlords are required to inform tenants if the property is located in a floodplain or has experienced damage due to past flooding. Whatever your lease says could be a good indication that you might want to get flood insurance.
You can also look at some maps to check if you live in an area that might flood. Enter your address at FloodHelpNY.org to see your risk of coastal flooding from storm surge. You can also get a sense of whether you might be at risk of stormwater flooding during heavy downpours by finding where you live on this map.
You can elect to get flood insurance whether or not you’re in a floodplain or maps show you’re at risk of stormwater flooding.
And keep in mind: if you live on an upper floor, it’s likely you won’t flood. But ground level and garden-level apartments are at higher risk.
If I already have renters insurance, why would I get flood insurance?
Most renters’ insurance policies do not cover damages in case of floods. Flood insurance backed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency is separate.
In some cases, however, the company that provides your renters insurance will also offer flood insurance. Allstate, for instance, offers both renters insurance and flood insurance.
But in other cases, you might have to go through a different company to get flood insurance.
State Farm, for example, offers renters insurance but does not offer flood insurance, according to Sujiery Constante, a State Farm account manager who works with residents in Bushwick and Ridgewood. Neither does the insurance company Lemonade, which is what Burt uses to cover her Astoria apartment.
FloodSmart.gov has a lookup tool to find providers of FEMA-backed flood insurance.
What does flood insurance for renters cover?
As a renter, the flood insurance you’d get covers losses of belongings caused by a flood. Examples of such belongings are clothes, furniture, electronics, air conditioners, washers and dryers, food freezers and original artwork.
The belongings would be damaged on account of “water rushing to the house,” according to Michael Vastardis, an agent with Allstate. The flood could be from the ocean — storm surge or tidal flooding — if you live near the coast or from heavy rainfall.
What doesn’t flood insurance cover?
Your flood insurance won’t cover loss of cash currency, cars or anything left outside your apartment, like a bike. For stuff kept below what’s called the lowest elevated floor — in basements or crawl spaces — the policy can get stricter. For instance, if there’s furniture or a computer in the basement and a flood ruins them, the policy likely would not cover those losses.
Also, flood insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by groundwater or moisture, mildew or mold. Damage from sewer backups is only covered if flooding directly caused the backup, according to FEMA.
Some renters insurance policy providers offer additional coverage for damaged belongings in cases of a sewer or drain backup, according to Constante from State Farm. You can add that additional coverage, called an endorsement, onto a typical renters insurance policy by request, so make sure to ask your policy provider about that if you’re interested.
After Hurricane Ida drenched the city in September 2021, Constante said the company was “able to cover people’s losses when we normally wouldn’t because they had an endorsement.”
Burt opted to add on the sewer backup coverage to her renters insurance through Lemonade, which in all costs about $320 a year.
When should I get flood insurance?
Sooner is better if you live in a low-lying or coastal area on the ground floor or garden level. Many flood insurance policies don’t kick in until 30 days after you purchase them.
OK, where should I start searching?
You can look up providers of FEMA-backed flood insurance providers by checking out FloodSmart.gov and entering your state into the search bar. A list of providers will appear. You can call one of them and get connected with a licensed agent who can get you a quote. Be warned, you may have to navigate through multiple phone menus before you talk to an agent.
Christian, a customer service representative at Assurant (also known as American Bankers Insurance Company), said the company has licensed agents in every state who write the flood policies. He provided the names of several local insurance companies that offer flood insurance.
Dena Drago, senior vice president of J.W. Allen Insurance Brokers, recommended first reaching out to a broker who represents multiple insurance companies in order to discuss options.
“It’s worth it for anyone to talk to a professional to understand the differences in programs that are out there,” she said. “I would hate, hate, hate for a client to think a loss is covered and there’s a big exclusion under the policy.”
How much does flood insurance cost?
It varies based on how much coverage you’d like to buy — the maximum for a FEMA-backed policy is $100,000 for contents — and on a number of factors including your location, when your building was constructed, the type of foundation it has and how close to the water it’s located.
Vastardis with Allstate provided THE CITY with sample flood insurance quotes for ground level apartments located in Astoria, Queens, and in Red Hook, Brooklyn. For $2,500 worth of contents coverage with a $100 deductible, the flood insurance policies cost between $360 and $390 for the year.
It’s a good idea to get multiple quotes from different agents to compare rates.
Are there other options?
You could go with a flood insurance policy that is not underwritten by FEMA, such as through companies like Neptune or Chubb. The details and costs of those policies vary. The private market is quite new in the flood insurance space, Drago said.
“That’s why you choose an independent broker: we can assess the market and make certain whatever product you choose is the right product for you,” she said.
Private flood insurance can offer a higher dollar amount of coverage compared to FEMA-backed insurance and may offer faster payouts with shorter waiting periods between when you purchase the policy and when it kicks in. But if a company offering insurance goes out of business, you could be left in the cold. FEMA-backed insurance, on the other hand, gives some security over the long term.
Anything else I should do?
You should document your belongings in the event a flood damages them so that you can make a claim later. Take photos of your stuff and save receipts. After a flood, you must photograph your damaged property before you can make a claim.
For other tips on preparation for a potential flood, read our explainer here.
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