Commercial Flood Insurance

Coverage for Small Businesses

Make Sure You're Covered When Disaster Strikes

Did you know that standard business owner policies don’t cover flood damage? And that flood damage and water damage aren’t the same thing to insurance companies?

Because of changing weather patterns, communities that rarely if ever have experienced severe flooding in the past could be at risk today. Make sure that you're properly covered by connecting with a Hylant advisor today.

A High-Level Overview of Commercial Flood Insurance

Today’s business owners should discuss flood coverage with their insurance adviser. It’s important to make an informed decision about whether this coverage could be beneficial. Here is a high-level overview.

Standard businessowners policies don’t cover flood damage.

Flood insurance must be purchased separately. In addition, flood policies don’t take effect immediately. Normally there is a waiting period of between 10 and 30 days.

Flood damage and water damage aren’t the same thing to insurance companies.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), one source of flood insurance, defines flooding as “a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties (at least one of which belongs to you).” Flooding examples include storm surge, runoff from heavy rainfall and mudflows.

Water damage from things such as faulty appliances and leaky pipes, in contrast, is not considered flood damage, even if a home or business is flooded as a result. This type of water damage is covered by most businessowners policies.

Sewer backup or sump pump failure coverage (also called “water backup coverage”) isn’t automatically covered as part of all businessowners policies.

An endorsement can be added to policies to provide coverage in case damage is caused by a sump pump overflow or failure or a drain or sewer overflow or backup.

There are two sources of flood insurance: NFIP and private.

Just a few years ago, insurance carriers had to obtain all flood policies for their clients through a federal program (NFIP). Today, private policies offer a second option that may be less expensive. An insurance adviser can describe the pros and cons of each.

Flood insurance availability and cost depend on location.

Insurers use tools such as flood zone maps and elevation certificates (a document describing a building’s location and lowest elevation) to determine whether flood coverage is available and at what rates. Homes and businesses built in areas not generally at risk of flooding will receive better rates than those built in high-risk areas. Premiums vary greatly depending on location. Policies cover both building property (e.g., drywall, pipes, electrical) and, to a lesser extent, personal property (e.g., furniture, appliances, clothing).