Is Flood Damage and Water Damage the Same?

Your home is supposed to be dry except for your bathroom, but sometimes things just happen. Suppose you get heavy rain, water from your roof made its way into your home and damaged your walls and flooring.  In the same week, you come home after work and discover pools of water from outside that caused a flood inside your property. This is your cue to call an independent adjuster in West Palm Beach to inspect your house.  

After studying the damage, your public adjuster may say your flood insurance only covers the damage caused by the flood and not the water damage to your home caused by the heavy rain.    
This can sound confusing. Flood damage and water damage insurance policies are not the same because flood damage is not recognized as water damage. Let’s talk about the differences between the two.   

Flood Damage Versus Water Damage  

Flood Damage

Flood is defined by the National Flood Insurance Program as: 

A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties, at least one is the property of the policyholder from: 

• An overflow of tidal and inland waters 

• Fast or unusual buildup of surface waters regardless of source 
• Mudflow 
• Collapse of land along any body of water due to erosion or caused by currents of water or waves that exceed cyclical levels leading to a flood.  

Water Damage

Typically, homeowners insurance will only cover water damage.  However, we suggest that you review your insurance policy and study the kind of water damage it covers. If there’s terminology you don’t understand, you should consult with a public adjuster for assistance.  

Generally, water damage is different from flood damage because it happens before water touches the ground. An example of this is a strong rainstorm that penetrates through your roof causing damage to your walls and your floors.   
Another example of water damage is when your plumbing pipes on your second-floor burst and water gets absorbed in your ceiling. Maybe an overflowing toilet soaks the floorboards of your bathroom or you encounter a hailstorm that breaks through your windows causing water to get inside your home.  

The Main Difference Between Flood and Water Damage Claim  

Ultimately, you can think of it this way:  the difference between the two is that flood water originates from a natural source and when two or more properties are affected. This means it’s not just your home that experienced the flooding, but your neighbors’ properties as well, as a result of rising waters or heavy rains.  In such a case, you can file a flood insurance claim.  

However, if you are experiencing water problems exclusively to your home and your neighbors’ homes are safe, then you’re going to need to submit a water damage claim.  

Are You Looking for a Reliable Independent Adjuster in West Palm Beach?  

Dealing with either flood or water damage can be scary, but you can make the experience less stressful if you ask for help from an independent adjuster.   

​At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we have your best interest at heart. We will treat your property damage as if it were our own. While it’s true that many companies offer the same services as we do, we strive to give you nothing but the best service by offering our knowledge, resources, and experience so that you can get the best settlement for your claim. Give us a call to know more about what we do.