Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Flood Cleanup in New York?

Q: What Is the Difference Between Water Damage and Flood Damage?

Insurers treat these very differently: - Usually covered by homeowners: a pipe that bursts suddenly, an appliance supply line that breaks, or rain that comes in through a roof opening caused by storm damage. - Usually not covered by homeowners: rising surface water, storm surge, overflowing waterways and heavy rain that floods in from outside. - Usually not covered at all: slow leaks and damage from long-term wear, which insurers see as maintenance.

Q: What If My Claim Is Denied?

- Ask for the denial in writing with the exact policy language it relies on. - Check every policy you have: homeowners, flood, and any endorsements. - Call the New York State Department of Financial Services Disaster Hotline at (800) 339-1759 with questions or complaints. - Have the claim reviewed by a licensed public adjuster who works for you, not the insurance company.

Vanesa Levine

22 hours ago

2 min read

Usually not for outside flooding. A standard New York homeowners policy generally covers sudden and accidental water damage, like a burst pipe, but excludes flood. Flood damage is normally covered only by a separate flood insurance policy, through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer.

What Is the Difference Between Water Damage and Flood Damage?

Insurers treat these very differently:

Usually covered by homeowners: a pipe that bursts suddenly, an appliance supply line that breaks, or rain that comes in through a roof opening caused by storm damage.
Usually not covered by homeowners: rising surface water, storm surge, overflowing waterways and heavy rain that floods in from outside.
Usually not covered at all: slow leaks and damage from long-term wear, which insurers see as maintenance.

Is Sewer Backup Covered?

Not under a standard policy. Water that backs up through a floor drain, toilet or sink is usually covered only if you added a water backup (sewer backup) endorsement. A flood policy covers backup only when it was directly caused by a flood. Many policies also have a concurrent causation clause, which can exclude damage when flooding happens at the same time. For more, read Burst Pipe, Sewer Backup or Outside Flooding: NYC Insurance Questions Before Cleanup.

What Does Flood Insurance Pay For?

An NFIP policy has two parts: building coverage for the structure and its systems, and contents coverage for your belongings, if you bought it. Residential NFIP limits are typically up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents. Basement coverage is limited, so read Does Flood Insurance Cover My Basement in Brooklyn or Queens?

Can I Buy Flood Insurance Now and Use It for This Storm?

No. NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period before coverage starts, so a policy bought after the water arrives will not cover this loss. It can protect you from the next one.

What If My Claim Is Denied?

Ask for the denial in writing with the exact policy language it relies on.
Check every policy you have: homeowners, flood, and any endorsements.
Call the New York State Department of Financial Services Disaster Hotline at (800) 339-1759 with questions or complaints.
Have the claim reviewed by a licensed public adjuster who works for you, not the insurance company.

Get Help With Cleanup and Your Claim

Call Flood Cleanup NYC at 212-600-9290. For claim help, see our Insurance Claims page.

Public adjusting services are provided by a New York licensed public adjuster under a separate written contract. You do not have to use our cleanup services to hire the public adjuster, and you do not have to hire the public adjuster to use our cleanup services.