Flood Insurance and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)

Flood insurance does not prevent flooding or flood damage but it does help owners protect their property investments by paying for building repairs and replacement of items damaged in a flood. As long as the insurance policy is active the house and its contents can be protected. Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

In order to be eligible to purchase flood insurance, your community must participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This program allows any local insurance agent to sell separate flood insurance under regulations set by the Federal Insurance Administration. Since the regulations are set for the nation, the rates do not change after claims are paid.

Basement back up insurance is an add-on to a standard flood insurance policy and covers seepage and sewer backup provided that the cause of the basement problem was due to flooding in the area. The amount of coverage, exclusions, deductibles, and arrangements differs widely for each insurance company.

More Information

See FloodSmart for complete flood insurance information.

Lake County's Interactive Mapping Tool for your FEMA-produced Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (D-FIRM) for your area. The FIRMs are used to determine if a property is in danger of flooding and whether structures on that property should be insured against flood loss. FEMA is responsible for the update and accuracy of the DFIRMs.