- Finished walls, floors and ceilings in the basement - Furniture, rugs, electronics and most personal belongings stored there - Damage from moisture or mold that could have been avoided

Does Flood Insurance Cover My Basement in Brooklyn or Queens?

Q: What Is Covered in a Basement?

NFIP basement coverage is generally limited to items like: - Furnaces, boilers, heating and air conditioning equipment - Water heaters - Washers, dryers and food freezers (under contents coverage) - Electrical panels, utility connections and other building systems - Cleanup related to covered items

Vanesa Levine

22 hours ago

2 min read

Only partly. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies give limited coverage in basements. They cover certain equipment and systems, but not finished basement improvements or most belongings kept there. That surprises many homeowners in Brooklyn and Queens, where basements and basement apartments flood often.

What Is Covered in a Basement?

NFIP basement coverage is generally limited to items like:

Furnaces, boilers, heating and air conditioning equipment
Water heaters
Washers, dryers and food freezers (under contents coverage)
Electrical panels, utility connections and other building systems
Cleanup related to covered items

What Is Not Covered?

Finished walls, floors and ceilings in the basement
Furniture, rugs, electronics and most personal belongings stored there
Damage from moisture or mold that could have been avoided

What Counts as a Basement?

For NFIP purposes, a basement is any area of the building with its floor below ground level on all sides. If the insurer calls your lower level a basement and you believe it is not, a licensed surveyor and an elevation certificate can support your position. Get it done before your proof of loss deadline.

What About Basement Apartments?

Your landlord's policy does not cover your belongings. Renters need their own contents coverage, and most belongings below ground level have limited flood coverage. Read Does Renters Insurance Cover Flooding in a NYC Basement Apartment?

What About Sewer Backup in the Basement?

Water that backs up through a basement floor drain or toilet is usually covered only by a water backup endorsement on your homeowners policy, unless the backup was directly caused by a flood. See My Sewer Backup Claim Was Denied in NYC: What Now?

Get Your Basement Cleaned Up and Your Claim Reviewed

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.