When it comes to protecting your home, few disasters can be as devastating as fire or flooding. Both can cause significant damage — not just to your property, but to everything you’ve built inside it.
However, many homeowners are surprised to learn that standard home insurance policies don’t cover every type of fire or flood damage. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included, what isn’t, and how to make sure you’re fully protected.
🔥 Fire Insurance Coverage: What’s Included
Most homeowners insurance policies already include fire coverage as part of their standard protection.
Typically, your fire insurance covers:
✅ Damage to the structure of your home — including walls, floors, ceilings, and built-in fixtures.
✅ Personal belongings such as furniture, electronics, clothing, and appliances damaged by fire or smoke.
✅ Detached structures — garages, sheds, or fences, usually up to a certain percentage of your main home’s coverage limit.
✅ Temporary living expenses (loss of use) if your home becomes uninhabitable during repairs.
💡 Example: If an electrical fire damages your kitchen, your insurance will cover rebuilding costs, replacement of cabinets, and even hotel stays while repairs are made.
🚫 Fire Insurance Exclusions: What’s Not Covered
Even though fire coverage is standard, there are exceptions:
❌ Intentional fires (arson or negligence) aren’t covered.
❌ Wildfires may not be included in high-risk zones — you might need separate wildfire coverage.
❌ Vacant homes left unoccupied for long periods may lose coverage.
Always read your policy carefully — in some areas (like California or Colorado), wildfire coverage is a separate add-on.
🌊 Flood Insurance: What It Really Covers
Here’s where things get tricky — most home insurance policies do not cover flood damage.
For that, you’ll need a separate flood insurance policy, typically through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers.
Flood insurance covers:
✅ Structural damage — foundation, walls, floors, and built-in systems (electrical, plumbing, HVAC).
✅ Essential appliances — water heaters, refrigerators, furnaces, and built-in dishwashers.
✅ Personal belongings — clothing, furniture, and electronics (within NFIP coverage limits).
💡 Example: If heavy rain causes nearby rivers to overflow and water enters your basement, flood insurance helps pay for cleanup and structural repairs.
🚫 What Flood Insurance Doesn’t Cover
Flood insurance has many exclusions homeowners often overlook:
❌ Basement contents such as carpets, wallpaper, or personal belongings stored below ground level.
❌ Landscaping and outdoor property (trees, fences, decks, pools).
❌ Temporary housing costs (unlike fire insurance, NFIP flood policies don’t cover hotel stays).
❌ Mold or mildew resulting from poor maintenance rather than the flood itself.
💡 How to Make Sure You’re Fully Covered
Check your home insurance policy — see if it includes fire coverage (most do).
If you live in a flood-prone area, use FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center to check your risk.
Consider supplemental flood insurance — even low-risk areas can flood after storms or snow melt.
Keep an updated home inventory — document valuables with photos or receipts for easier claims.
🧾 Final Thoughts
Fire and flood insurance are both essential, but they protect against very different threats.
Fire insurance gives broad protection from one of the most common household disasters.
Flood insurance fills a critical gap left by standard home insurance.
If you’re unsure what your policy covers, talk to your insurer or compare options online — it might cost less than you think to fully protect your home.
✅ Tip from PolicyRadar:
Don’t wait until after a disaster to find out what’s missing from your coverage. Review your policy every year and update it whenever you renovate, move, or change your living situation.