Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). A regular homeowners policy does not provide coverage for flood damage. You can obtain a NFIP policy by contacting your American Family Insurance agent.

Anyone can buy flood insurance, even if the person's property has been flooded before, as long as the property is in a community that participates in the NFIP. Nearly 20,000 communities in the U.S. participate in this program.

There is generally a 30-day waiting period after the premium has been paid before a new flood policy takes effect.

The "comprehensive" coverage in an automobile insurance policy generally pays for flood damage to a vehicle.

Following are answers to frequently asked questions about insurance coverage and damage caused by flooding.

Flood - Homeowners

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• I have flood damage? Who should I contact to report my claim?

  • American Family Insurance policyholders who have flood damage should report their claims to our 24-hour Claims Customer Care Center at 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) or their American Family Insurance agent.

    If you have federal flood insurance, you must contact your agent and file a claim under that policy. Your agent has information to help you with that process.

• What constitutes a flood?

  • Insurance companies generally define flooding as any accumulation of surface or subsurface water from any source. Flooding can occur due to a variety of situations, including heavy rains, melting snow, inadequate drainage systems, failed protective devices such as levees and dams and tropical storms. All areas are susceptible to flooding, although to varying degrees. According to the NFIP, 25 percent of all flood claims occur in the low-to-moderate risk areas.

• If I have flood damage and I have insurance through the NFIP, who is going to handle my claim?

  • The National Flood Insurance Program contracts with insurance companies to sell and service its policies. If you purchased your flood insurance policy from an American Family Insurance agent, report your claim and we arrange for an adjuster to inspect and settle your claim following the terms of your NFIP policy.

• If I don't have flood insurance, should I still report my claim?

  • Yes, you should still report your claim as soon as possible. While flooding may have caused some damage to your home, other damage may have been caused by a peril covered by your homeowners policy, such as high wind or hail. An adjuster inspects your property and determines the cause or causes of your damage.

• Is there anything I can do to help with the claim process?

  Report your claim as soon as possible. Use sand bags, tarps or other materials to prevent additional damage to your home. Take photos of damage to your home, such as soaked carpets and drywall, and personal belongings before disposing the items. Share the photos with your adjuster as well as receipts of any materials purchased to prevent additional damage.

  Remember, if the damage resulted from a flood, you must have flood insurance to receive payment for repairs.

• Who do I call to make repairs?

  You are free to select any contractor or repair shop you wish. It is usually best to select one who has operated in the area for several years, is insured and bonded and gives you a written guarantee for the work performed.

Flood - Auto

Expand All

• I have flood damage? Who should I contact to report my claim?

  • American Family Insurance policyholders who have flood damage should report their claims to our 24-hour Claims Customer Care Center at 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) or their American Family Insurance agent.

• What constitutes a flood?

  • Insurance companies generally define flooding as any accumulation of surface or subsurface water from any source. Flooding can occur due to a variety of situations, including heavy rains, melting snow, inadequate drainage systems, failed protective devices such as levees and dams and tropical storms. All areas are susceptible to flooding, although to varying degrees. According to the NFIP, 25 percent of all flood claims occur in the low-to-moderate risk areas.

• Who do I call to make repairs?

  • You are free to select any repair shop you wish. It is usually best to select one who has operated in the area for several years, is insured and bonded and gives you a written guarantee for the work performed.

Have a question that you couldn't find here? Contact your American Family Insurance agent with your additional questions.

Return to Storm FAQ's.