Clawson: A Texas Flood Insurance Agency
Texas Flood Insurance
Many homeowners are surprised to learn their home insurance policies don’t cover flooding events. That’s right: Standard homeowners policies won’t cover flood damage.
This fact puts many Brazoria County residents—especially those living on or near the Gulf Coast—in a difficult spot. For these residents, adequate flood coverage isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Flood Insurance & How Standard Home Polices Define ‘Flooding’
If a pipe in your home busted and flooded your floor, would it be considered a “flooding event” and thus, not reimbursed by your homeowners policy? Or would it be covered?
If you answered, “Yes, this event should be covered under my home insurance” (or something similar), you’re correct. A flooded floor or other water damage to the home caused by a busted pipe (or even a malfunctioning appliance) would likely be covered by a typical home policy.
What kinds of events, then, are classified as “flooding” and are thus not covered under standard homeowners insurance? Obviously, a heavy rainfall event wherein water rose into the home would qualify as flooding.
However, other kinds of damage classified as “flood damage” under standard homeowners policies aren’t quite as apparent. In other words, your house doesn’t need to flood with rainwater to sustain “flood damage.” As specified in typical homeowners and flood insurance policies, flood damage also includes:
• Rain damage
• Storm surge damage
• Mud damage
It’s a guarantee that your existing homeowners policy (or any home insurance you’re considering for purchase) won’t cover the above events.
Where Do I Buy Texas Flood Insurance?
The overwhelming majority of flood insurance policies across the US—including in the great State of Texas—are sold under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
To purchase NFIP-licensed Texas flood insurance from FEMA, you must go through an NFIP-Direct-affiliated agency. Clawson has sold NFIP Texas flood insurance for many years.
That said, US residents who live along the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS)—including Texas’s Gulf Coast—aren’t eligible for NFIP Flood Insurance (CBRS). These homeowners must purchase coverage through private carriers.
Texas Flood Insurance & the Coastal Barrier Resources Act
In 1982, the US Congress passed the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) to help curb and prevent development along US coastal barriers. These areas are considered ecologically fragile and also present amplified risk to human life and health due to their extreme exposure to hurricanes and other extreme storms that form at sea. As such, homes, businesses and other structures built in these areas at far greater peril compared to buildings erected further inland.
For this reason, any home or business built within the CBRS after 1982 is not eligible for flood insurance through FEMA’s NFIP. In Brazoria County, this describes many homes and businesses in Surfside Beach.
If you own a home or business in Surfside Beach, and need to obtain flood insurance, there’s a good chance you aren’t eligible for coverage through the NFIP. Don’t fret. Flood Insurance is nonetheless available for these residents through private carriers, some of whom are Clawson Insurance partners.
What types of Flood Insurance Can I Purchase Through the NFIP?
NFIP flood insurance policies come in two types:
Standard Flood Insurance
These policies are designed for residents who live in communities with an active and ongoing flood management plan. Such communities must also be able to demonstrate that they have enacted certain NFIP guidelines to reduce flood-based damages.
Preferred Risk Flood Insurance
These flood insurance policies are designed for residents living in low-to-moderate risk zones. Such residents aren’t necessarily required to purchase flood insurance but have this option in case they experience a small flood or even an unexpectedly big one.
At Clawson Insurance Agency, We Sell Texas Flood Insurance Through FEMA
If you’re shopping for flood insurance, we’d be thrilled to hear from you! As an NFIP-Direct agency, we can help you find and purchase an appropriate Texas flood insurance policy.
Got questions about flood insurance? At Clawson, we’ve got the answers you need to make informed decisions about insurance coverage! For a free Texas flood insurance quote, call Clawson Insurance Agency today at 979-849-7784! For a free online Texas flood insurance quote, fill out the quote form on this page!