doesn’t require you to have flood insurance coverage for your home, some mortgage lenders might require it if you’re buying a house in a flood zone.

Typical homeowners insurance policies cover named perils—or some of the most common occurrences that cause damage to homes. However, one of the most common natural disasters in the US isn’t covered under most policies—flooding. Since flooding can damage multiple property structures, most companies think it’s too risky and expensive to cover.

Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t realize flooding isn’t covered under their policy, so few purchase separate flooding protection. And in a state like Texas that sees severe weather annually, it’s a good idea to know your flood coverage options.

It’s crucial to know what your homeowners insurance policy covers and how flood insurance works in your particular state. That’s why insurance brokerage app

Jerry

put together this guide with everything you need to know about flood insurance in Texas.

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What is flood insurance?

Flood insurance is a type of policy separate from your regular homeowners insurance that covers water damage to your house, belongings, or separate structures on your property, specifically from flooding.

Regular homeowners policies cover water damage from plumbing issues, like a pipe that bursts suddenly. But flooding from natural disasters, like a severe storm, isn’t covered unless you have a separate policy.

What does flood insurance cover?

Flood insurance comes in two varieties:

Building coverage, which protects your primary home structure and other structures on your property

Contents coverage, which protects most of the contents of those structures

It’s important to keep in mind that flood insurance does have limitations. There are some objects in your home and situations that it won’t cover either.

Here’s a breakdown of what flood insurance does and does not cover:

Type of coverage	What it covers	What it doesn’t cover
Building	Electrical and plumbing systems Water heaters and furnaces Large appliances like dishwashers or refrigerators Permanently installed bookcases, cabinets, and paneling Permanently installed carpets Window blinds Foundational walls, staircases, and anchorages Detached garages Fuel tanks, solar panels, and well water tanks/pumps	Decks and patios Swimming pools Fences and landscaping
Contents	Clothing Furniture Electronic equipment Curtains Washing machine and dryer Portable air conditioners, including window units Carpets not included in building coverage Valuables such as artwork up to $2,500	Valuable papers Currency Anything stored in a basement

MORE: Does home insurance cover flooded basements?

Do you need flood insurance in Texas?

In short—maybe.

Texas doesn’t require flood insurance by law. However, in some high-risk flood areas, mortgage lenders may require homeowners to maintain a separate flood insurance policy.

Even if your mortgage lender doesn’t require you to have flood insurance, it’s a good idea to have flooding coverage—especially in Texas, which sees hurricanes and tropical storms every year.

Texas sees some of the highest rates of property damage due to flooding in the nation, and one in four flood losses occurs in areas that aren’t considered high flood risks. In the

Houston

area alone, 32% of all properties are considered at high risk for flood damage, yet only around 13% of Texas homeowners have flood insurance policies.

What flood zones require flood insurance in Texas?

FEMA uses flood maps and a letter grading system for flood zones to determine if an area is high risk or not. Mortgage lenders and insurance companies will use these designations to determine flood risk and insurance policies.

High-risk zones are labeled A or V

Moderate risk zones are B or X

Low-risk zones are C

If you want to determine if your house is in a flood zone, you can use FEMA’s

Flood Map Service Center

Flood Factor®

How much does flood insurance cost in Texas?

The national average cost of flood insurance is $739 per year. The average cost of flood insurance in Texas, however, is lower at just $624 a year.

The cost of your flood insurance policy can vary as it depends on where your home is located and how much coverage you purchase. For residential customers, you can get up to $250,000 in building coverage and $100,000 for contents coverage.

MORE: How much water damage will total a car?

How to save money on flood and auto insurance in Texas

If you want to lower your flood insurance premiums in Texas, you can do the following:

Follow FEMA’s

Choose a higher deductible

Submit an

elevation certificate

to your insurance agent

Choose contents-only coverage

Keep in mind that flood insurance covers building structures and contents—it does not cover flood damage to your vehicles. To make sure your home and vehicles are protected, use the

Jerry

app to compare quotes on

car insurance

policies that include flood coverage.

In less than a minute, Jerry will compare rates from over 50 top insurance companies to find coverage that fits your specific needs and your budget. And if you want to save even more, consider bundling your home and auto insurance together for discounts on both.

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