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Flood Insurance When You're on a Last-Resort Plan

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Your homeowners, FAIR plan or wind pool policy doesn't cover flood

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) says: "The damage from a flood is not covered under a standard homeowner's policy." FEMA says the same: "Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy."

The last-resort plans are no different. Here is what each plan we checked says, in its own words:

Other FAIR plans aren't in this table because we haven't checked each one's policy for flood; ask the plan or your agent. Our FAIR plan guide lists every state's plan. Like flood, earthquake is a separate policy too; see our earthquake insurance guide. A difference in conditions (DIC) policy fills gaps in a fire-only FAIR plan, but the California FAIR Plan lists flood as a separate purchase from DIC. [1][2][3][8][10][11][12][13][17][18]

Florida Citizens: flood insurance required on most policies by Jan. 1, 2027

Florida law (section 627.351(6)(aa), Florida Statutes) says Citizens "shall require the securing and maintaining of flood insurance as a condition of coverage of a personal lines residential risk," and "may deny coverage" to anyone who refuses. Citizens says this applies to "most of Citizens' new and renewing Personal Residential policies that include wind coverage." The law phased the rule in:

As of Oct. 14, 2026, that last step is less than three months away. Citizens accepts a pending flood application with proof of payment as initial proof, but a new NFIP policy usually doesn't take effect until 30 days after you apply and pay (see below).

Who is exempt. The statute exempts "Policies that do not provide coverage for the peril of wind" and "Policies that provide coverage under a condominium unit owners form." Citizens' own flood page also lists "tenant content policies" as not required to buy flood coverage.

How much flood coverage. The statute says the flood coverage must meet "at a minimum, the dwelling coverage available from the National Flood Insurance Program" or Florida's private flood standards (section 627.715). Citizens' page says dwelling policies need flood coverage "Equal to or greater than your Citizens policy dwelling value, (Coverage A)," and if that isn't available from the NFIP, "Citizens will accept the maximum coverage amount for which the insured is eligible" ($250,000 for a single-family home in the NFIP regular program).

Proof. You send proof of flood coverage (for example, the flood declarations page, or the flood application and proof of payment if it's pending) plus a signed Policyholder Affirmation Regarding Flood Insurance (form CIT FW01). Details and the form are on Citizens' flood page.

Water claims. Florida law also says a Citizens policyholder "making a claim for water damage against the corporation has the burden of proving that the damage was not caused by flooding."

More on Citizens eligibility and takeouts: Florida Citizens and our Florida page. Flood specifics for Florida: FloodHawk's Florida page. [3][4][15]

TWIA: flood insurance required in V zones

Texas Insurance Code section 2210.203(a-1) applies to structures "constructed, altered, remodeled, or enlarged on or after September 1, 2009" in areas the commissioner designates. If any part of the property is in "Zone V or another similar zone with an additional hazard associated with storm waves" and NFIP flood insurance is available, TWIA "may not issue an insurance policy for initial or renewal coverage unless evidence that the property is covered by a flood insurance policy is submitted." TWIA's eligibility page names the zones: "V, VE, or V1-30."

What TWIA says about the rule:

• What doesn't trigger it. Ordinary "maintenance or repairs" don't count, "unless the maintenance or repair process is used as an opportunity to alter, remodel, or enlarge the structure."
• How much. The flood coverage must be at least the smallest of: 90% of your TWIA coverage (if NFIP replacement-cost coverage is available), 90% of the actual cash value of the TWIA-insured property (if not), or the NFIP maximum for the property.
• Exception. "Flood insurance is not required for insurable corporeal movable property that is located on or above the third floor of a structure."
• Even if it isn't required, "TWIA strongly recommends all policyholders purchase flood insurance." The statute also says an agent selling TWIA coverage in a designated area "shall offer flood insurance coverage."

Full details: TWIA's flood requirement page, our TWIA page and Texas page. To find your zone, see FloodHawk's Zone VE guide. [5][6][14]

Other plans that require or tie coverage to flood insurance

• Alabama (AIUA): "Flood coverage is required in an amount at least equal to the AIUA policy limits or the maximum provided by the National Flood Insurance Program for those properties located in flood hazard zones A or V." For a condo unit, you need your own flood policy "unless the condo unit is located above the second level of any multi-level building." See also our Alabama page.
• South Carolina (SCWHUA): "While flood insurance is not required, it is strongly recommended. It is required for the replacement cost coverage for primary, single family dwellings." See our South Carolina page.

For Louisiana Citizens, MWUA and NCJUA/NCIUA, we did not find a flood-insurance purchase requirement on the pages we checked; that isn't proof there is none, so ask the plan or your agent. Your mortgage lender may also require flood insurance; FEMA says homes in high-risk flood areas "with mortgages from government-backed lenders are required to have flood insurance." FloodHawk explains when flood insurance is required. [2][7][18]

After a hurricane: wind vs. storm surge

A hurricane can bring two kinds of damage, and they go to two different policies. NAIC: "Flood or storm surge damage, however, is covered only if a separate flood insurance policy was purchased, generally from the National Flood Insurance Program or from a private company."

• Wind (for example, a tree blown onto your roof, or rain getting in through a wind-damaged roof) is generally a claim on your home, Citizens or wind-pool policy. NAIC's example: "if a tree falls on a policyholder's roof on a windy day, the claim would be subject to the wind deductible." FEMA's fact sheet says homeowners policies "may cover damage from other perils, such as wind-driven rain," and that rain "propelled into a covered structure by wind" is not covered by flood insurance; "The same is true if your roof is damaged and water enters through the ceiling."
• Storm surge and rising water go to your flood policy. FEMA: an NFIP policy "covers damage caused by water entering your home from the ground up due to storm surge, heavy rainfall or the overflow of a body of water."

A hurricane or named-storm deductible, if your policy has one, applies to the claim on your home or wind policy. NAIC says a hurricane deductible "typically applies to damage solely from a hurricane." It doesn't make your home policy pay for surge. FEMA warns you "will likely need to file insurance claims with both entities and work with multiple adjusters." Our hurricane deductible guide explains how percentage deductibles work, and the hurricane deductible calculator shows what yours is in dollars. For filing the flood side, see FloodHawk's flood claim guide. [19][20]

NFIP basics: the 30-day wait and the coverage caps

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is managed by FEMA and sold through private insurance companies and their agents. Two rules matter if a plan or lender is about to require it:

• 30-day waiting period. Under federal rules, a new NFIP policy or added coverage generally starts "on the 30th calendar day after the application date and the presentment of payment of premium." Exceptions: coverage bought in connection with "the making, increasing, extension, or renewal of a loan" can start at loan closing; coverage bought within 13 months after a flood map revision starts the next day; and so can coverage for property that FEMA determines is affected by flooding on federal land caused or made worse by post-wildfire conditions, if bought within 60 days of fire containment. TWIA adds that the 30-day wait "applies to most flood insurance policies, not just ones from the NFIP."
• Coverage caps. For a single-family home the NFIP regular program maximum is $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents. If your home is worth more, NAIC notes that excess flood insurance can be bought on top of an NFIP policy; ask your agent.

That's all we cover here. For what an NFIP policy covers, what it costs and how private flood compares, go to FloodHawk: what flood insurance covers, how much flood insurance costs, private flood vs. NFIP, FEMA flood zones explained and what flood zone am I in. To buy an NFIP policy, use FEMA's provider finder or ask your agent. [1][2][6][15][16]

FEMA disaster aid is not flood insurance

FEMA says its Individuals and Households Program "is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet your basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts." FEMA also "cannot provide assistance for disaster needs that have already been met by another source, like insurance," and you must tell FEMA about any insurance you have when you apply. See FloodHawk's FEMA assistance guide for what FEMA pays and how to apply. [21][22]

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