Two of the most damaging events a home can face, flood and earthquake, are excluded from standard homeowners policies. Understanding that gap is the first step to deciding what to do about it.
Why they are excluded
Homeowners policies exclude both flood and earthquake by design, so a flooded or quake-damaged home is generally an uncovered loss without separate coverage. Given how damaging both are, that is a significant gap for many households.
Flood: not just for flood zones
Flood is the most common natural disaster, and a large share of flood claims come from properties outside mapped high-risk zones. Coverage is available through the National Flood Insurance Program and a growing private market, and lenders often require it in high-risk areas.
Earthquake: a Western reality
Across the West, earthquake is a real exposure, and coverage uses a percentage deductible tied to your home’s value. That makes it a decision about catastrophic protection for your largest asset, not small claims. If your home is in Oregon or Washington, our deeper guide to earthquake insurance in Oregon and Washington covers the coverage gap, deductibles, Cascadia risk, and what to compare.
What to do
Decide flood and earthquake on purpose rather than by default. Confirm whether your home has real exposure, compare the coverage options, and weigh whether your household could absorb rebuilding without them. A review helps you decide.
Questions to ask your advisor
- Is flood or earthquake handled anywhere on my current coverage, or is each fully excluded?
- What is my home’s real flood exposure, even if I am outside a mapped high-risk zone?
- Where would I buy flood coverage, and how do NFIP and private options compare for my home?
- For earthquake, what would the percentage deductible look like in real dollars on my home?
- Could my household absorb a rebuild without either coverage, and where does that leave the decision?
Want guidance first? Compare your coverage. Already know what you need? Get a quote.