Alabama Flood Insurance: Complete Guide for Homeowners in 2021 

Floods can happen anywhere—and Alabama is no exception. In fact, three of the 10 costliest hurricanes in U.S. history have affected Alabama, including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and Hurricane Ivan. All three resulted in flooding. Hurricane Ivan resulted in $1.6 billion in total flood insurance losses paid for by the federal government ’s National Flood Insurance Program ( NFIP ) across the affected states. And Hurricane Katrina dealt the affected states a staggering $16 billion in flood insurance claims paid for by the NFIP.

Alabama receives about 56 inches of rainfall every year, which creates a high risk of riverine and flash flooding. Coastal counties, like Mobile and Baldwin, are susceptible to storm surge from tropical storms and hurricanes. But despite this, less than a third of Alabama residents have flood insurance in place.

Why buy flood insurance? Because your homeowners insurance policy won’t payout if you have flood damage. Standard homeowners insurance specifically excludes damage from flooding. To cover that, you’ll need to purchase flood insurance. Just imagine a few inches of floodwater in your home and how much it would cost to rip out the walls and flooring and replace your belongings. You can avoid this if you buy flood insurance. From Huntsville to Mobile and everywhere in between, flood insurance is a smart bet to protect you against flood losses.

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Do I Need Flood Insurance in Alabama?

Yes! If you live in a traditional floodplain as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA )’s flood maps, your mortgage lender may require you to have flood insurance coverage. This is typical for people in high- risk areas. However, people who don’t live in the traditional flood zones may still need flood insurance even if it’s not required. Here’s why.

River floodplains and coastal areas are the most susceptible to flooding, but it’s possible for flooding to happen in areas that simply have unusually long periods of heavy rains. Low- and moderate-risk flood zones can flood during a slow-moving rainstorm, or a broken sewer line could flood your house. Neither of these circumstances will be covered by your home insurance policy. And with severe storms ranking as the most common natural disaster in Alabama, it’s important for you to be prepared.

Alabama Flood Zones

Between the tropical storms on the Gulf Coast and the numerous rivers and streams in Alabama, the potential for flooding is high. The coastline is battered by rains on an almost yearly basis, and the majority of homes along the coastal and river areas are located in floodplains, which means they’re at a high risk for flooding.

What’s Covered with Alabama Flood Insurance?

Flood insurance typically comes in two parts: building/property coverage and contents coverage.

The building coverage portion of the policy covers physical damage to the building, including:

• The insured building and its foundation

• Electrical and plumbing systems

• Central AC equipment, furnaces, and water heaters

• Refrigerators

• Cooking stoves

• Built-in appliances, like dishwashers

• Permanently installed carpeting over unfinished flooring

• Permanent paneling, wallboard, bookcases, and cabinets

• Detached garages

• Debris removal

The contents portion of the policy is for your personal belongings. This could include:

• Clothes

• Furniture

• Electronic equipment

• Curtains

• Portable and window air conditioners

• Microwaves and portable dishwashers

• Carpets that aren’t included in the building coverage

• Washers and dryers

• Food freezers and the food in them

What’s Not Covered with Alabama Flood Insurance?

Alabama flood coverage only covers losses that are directly caused by flooding, defined as an excess of water on land that is normally dry. That means if your sewer backs up because there was a flood, the damage will be covered, but if the sewer backup isn’t caused by flooding, it won’t be covered.

These items also typically aren’t included in either building coverage or contents coverage:

• Damage caused by moisture, mildew, or mold that you could have avoided

• Property outside the insured building, like your hot tub, swimming pool, or landscaping

• Temporary housing or additional living expenses that you incur while your home is being repaired

• Financial losses from business interruption

• Currency, stock certificates, and other valuable papers

• Cars

• Personal property kept in the basement

What’s the Cost of Flood Insurance in Alabama?

The cost of flood insurance for property owners varies by location, but as an example, a $100,000 policy for a house in a high-risk flood zone in Birmingham costs about $800 annually.

However, recent flood insurance reform may change the average flood insurance costs in your area. Your premiums may be higher or lower than the average based on information like:

• Your area’s specific flood risk

• The type of coverage you’re buying

• The deductible you select

• The amount of building and/or contents coverage you choose

• The construction and age of your home

When you gather flood insurance quotes, be sure you know how much coverage you need. This could include doing a home inventory where you go from room to room in your home to figure out the value of your belongings.

In addition, it’s a good idea to figure out whether you live in a low- or moderate-risk flood zone. If you do, you may be eligible for a Preferred Risk Policy from NFIP —a lower flood insurance rate that’s available for people at lower risk.

How to Get a Flood Insurance Policy in Alabama

Would-be policyholders in Alabama have two options for buying flood insurance. You can go with a private insurer, or you can seek public insurance through NFIP, which is sold by regular insurance agents but is backed by the federal government. If you have a mortgage, your lender may have certain restrictions on the kind of coverage you’re required to have, so make sure to ask your mortgage lender for details.

National Flood Insurance Program ( NFIP )

The National Flood Insurance Program is administered by FEMA. It has been around for more than five decades. The NFIP sells two kinds of homeowners policies—one covers the building and the other covers contents. NFIP policies have a maximum of $250,000 of building coverage and $100,000 for personal belongings.

It’s important to know that NFIP coverage has a waiting period of 30 days. You can’t buy it right before a storm hits and expect your house to be covered. Learn more about NFIP policies at floodsmart.gov.

Private Flood Insurance

Private insurers can be a great option if they’re available in your area. They tend to have extra coverage options that aren’t part of NFIP insurance. For example, private insurers often have higher coverage limits—up to $1 million in some cases. Also, the cost is usually lower than NFIP insurance, although this is partially because private insurers can choose not to insure homes in high- risk areas. In these places, the NFIP may be the only option available.

With a private insurer, you may also be able to get coverage for things like temporary living expenses and coverage of basement contents. The waiting period is usually shorter than the NFIP and should kick in around 10–14 days after you buy it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Buy Alabama Flood Insurance Now

There’s never been a better time to buy flood insurance in Alabama. Get moving now so your flood insurance can take effect before the next storm.

Complement your flood policy with a cheaper, more comprehensive homeowners insurance policy. Insurify partners with top insurers to get you the quotes you need fast.