Building Coverage Elements
Flood insurance in Texas provides protection for your home's physical structure and its foundation. This coverage extends to electrical and plumbing systems, furnaces, water heaters, central air conditioning, and permanently installed appliances like refrigerators and stoves. Built-in fixtures, including bookcases, cabinets, and paneling, are covered, as are permanently installed carpeting over unfinished floors. Detached garages receive limited coverage (up to 10% of your building coverage), though this reduces your available dwelling coverage. Most policies also protect anchored fuel tanks, solar equipment, and well water tanks and pumps attached to the property.
Personal Property Protection
Contents coverage, purchased separately from building coverage, protects your personal belongings from flood damage. This includes furniture, clothing, electronics, and window air conditioners. Portable appliances like microwaves and dishwashers are covered, as are washers, dryers, and food freezers, along with their contents. Coverage extends to certain valuables, such as artwork and furs, though with specific sub-limits (typically $2,500 combined). Most Texas flood policies cover personal property at actual cash value (accounting for depreciation) rather than replacement cost unless specifically upgraded.
Coverage Limitations
Significant coverage restrictions apply to areas below the lowest elevated floor (basements, crawlspaces, and sunken rooms). Only foundational elements, staircases, electrical systems, and certain major appliances are covered in these areas. Finished basement walls, floors, and most personal property stored in below-grade areas receive limited or no protection. Outside the building, there's no coverage for landscaping, septic systems, decks, patios, fences, swimming pools, or seawalls. Currency, precious metals, and valuable papers like stock certificates are excluded from coverage.
Financial Parameters
The National Flood Insurance Program, which provides most Texas flood insurance, caps residential building coverage at $250,000 and contents coverage at $100,000. Private market insurers may offer higher limits for additional premiums. Unlike homeowners insurance, flood policies don't cover temporary living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable. Most policies implement a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect, preventing last-minute purchases before anticipated flooding events. Mandatory federal surcharges and fees are added to all policies, slightly increasing the effective cost beyond the base premium.