After seeing historic flooding around the state, many Hoosiers are digging into their insurance policies to rebuild.
Tornado damage is included in most renter’s and homeowner’s insurance policies, but typically, flooding is not, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Flood insurance is a separate policy that can cover buildings, the contents in a building or both.
Flooding can happen anywhere at any time, but in some states, it happens more consistently, so residents are more aware of the need for flood insurance. After this year’s severe weather, more in Indiana might consider it — especially if they live near a body of water.
According to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, if you live in an area with low or moderate flood risk, you are 5 times more likely to experience a flood than a fire in your home over the next 30 years. Nearly one-third of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance claims occur outside high flood risk areas.
It has never flooded like this. How would I have known to need flood insurance?
In many states, flooding is more common and happens annually, like in neighboring Kentucky, so a need for flood insurance is more common knowledge. In Indiana, many homeowners and renters incorrectly assume that since other natural disasters, like tornadoes, are covered, floods are too — but that is not the case.
So unless you previously knew you lived in a flood hazardous area or in a floodplain, you likely wouldn’t have known you needed a flood insurance policy until now.
“That’s more an insurance issue — why my renter’s insurance or my homeowner’s insurance doesn’t automatically cover flooding when every other natural disaster is covered — but that’s the way it is and that’s not really the landlord’s doing,” clinical professor Gary Pieples told IndyStar. Pieples is the director of the Community Legal Clinic at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
What’s a landlord’s responsibility if it floods?
If the home/building you rent is located in a floodplain, your landlord is supposed to disclose that to you so you have the option to get flood insurance on top of your renter’s insurance before you move in.
“If the landlord knew [the property] was in a floodplain and didn’t advise the tenant to get flood insurance, that might be an argument to make that the landlord was negligent in that instance,” Pieples said.
Otherwise, getting flood insurance is at the discretion of the tenant. The landlord is only responsible for maintaining the premises (the building or home itself) and ensuring it is in safe, clean and livable condition. The landlord should be given reasonable time to repair the property/structure after the flood damage, but any damage to the renter’s belongings inside caused by the flood is the tenant’s responsibility, not the landlord.
How to purchase flood insurance
The first step towards getting flood insurance is getting a quote. The NFIP Quote Tool is a new online resource from FEMA and gets you a personalized quote for free.
To purchase flood insurance, share the quote with an agent near you or you can call your insurance company or agent, the same person who sells your home or auto insurance.
If you need help finding a provider, go to floodsmart.gov/get-insured/flood-insurance-provider or call the NFIP at (877) 336-2627.
FEMA recommends planning ahead as there is typically a 30-day waiting period for an NFIP policy to go into effect. So unfortunately Hoosiers who didn’t have flood insurance before the flood will not be covered as most policies do not include retroactive coverage.
For more information about flood insurance, visit floodsmart.gov.
Are you a renter having issues after flood damage? Contact IndyStar reporter Katie Wiseman at klwiseman@indystar.com.
Katie Wiseman covers trending news for IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@indystar.com. Follow her on Bluesky, Twitter and Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Flood damage likely isn’t covered by your renter’s insurance. Who’s liable?
Reporting by Katie Wiseman, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Katie Wiseman, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
