By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO
We serve Connecticut by phone, email and online, with a Fairfield County office coming soon. In Stratford, flood risk comes from two directions. Long Island Sound can push storm surge and tidal flooding into Lordship, Short Beach and other shoreline neighborhoods, and the Housatonic River and its tidal marshes can back up during heavy rain and coastal storms. We start with your Stratford homeowners insurance, then build flood coverage around it.
Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is an independent agency that compares 40+ carriers and charges no fees of any kind. We are the most-reviewed independent insurance agency in New Hampshire, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials across our two offices. Call (603) 431-4020 or request a quote.
Why Stratford homes flood
Hurricanes get the headlines, but a slow-moving nor’easter that stalls over several high tides can do as much damage on the shoreline. Add heavy rain on the Housatonic and local brooks, and streets, basements and garages can flood well away from the beach. Low-lying homes, slab or crawlspace foundations and finished basements carry the most exposure. FEMA maps much of Stratford’s waterfront in high-risk zones; check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
Is flood insurance required in Stratford?
If the home is in a FEMA high-risk zone (zones starting with A or V) and you have a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require flood insurance. Outside those zones it is optional, but flooding does not follow map lines, and homes in moderate- and low-risk zones do flood. We can help you read the map for your address and talk through whether coverage makes sense.
NFIP flood insurance through Selective
The National Flood Insurance Program covers up to $250,000 for the building and up to $100,000 for contents. FEMA sets NFIP pricing based on the individual property, including its elevation, foundation, distance to water and rebuild cost. We write NFIP policies through Selective, a Write Your Own carrier. Expect a 30-day waiting period unless the purchase is tied to a loan closing or a map change. An elevation certificate is not required for NFIP, but it can help.
Private flood and higher limits
Many Stratford and Fairfield County homes cost more than $250,000 to rebuild, and some owners want coverage the NFIP limits, such as basement contents or additional living expenses. We compare private flood from Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge. Depending on the property, private flood can offer higher limits, a shorter waiting period, or excess coverage above an NFIP policy. Lenders generally accept private flood that meets federal requirements; we confirm with yours.
Flood vs. homeowners vs. the hurricane deductible
- Flood, meaning rising water from the Sound, the river or heavy rain on the ground, is excluded from homeowners insurance and needs a flood policy.
- Wind and wind-driven damage from a hurricane or nor’easter falls under homeowners. In Connecticut it may be subject to a hurricane deductible, usually a percentage of the dwelling limit, that applies only to qualifying storms. See hurricane deductibles in Connecticut.
- Water backup from drains or sump pumps is a homeowners add-on, not flood coverage.
Getting the homeowners policy right first
Flood sits next to the homeowners policy, so we look at both together. Carrier fit for the home depends on rebuild cost: most carriers we work with fit homes under about $2 million, Andover writes many Connecticut homes up to about $2.25 million, Hanover is often a fit around $2 million to $3 million, Cincinnati above $3 million and Chubb at $5 million and up. For larger shoreline homes, see high-value home insurance in Stratford and coastal home insurance in Connecticut.
Buying a home in a Stratford flood zone
Get flood quotes before you commit to a house. Ask the seller for any elevation certificate and their current flood policy, since some NFIP policies can be assigned to a buyer. Work the flood cost into your budget alongside the mortgage. We line up the homeowners and flood binders so both are ready for closing.
More Connecticut flood resources
For towns beyond Stratford, see Fairfield County flood insurance and Greenwich and Westport flood insurance. Our flood insurance overview explains coverage basics, and you can also start a flood quote directly. Local questions? Visit our Stratford, CT insurance agency page.
What to send us for a Stratford flood quote
- The property address, so we can confirm the FEMA flood zone
- Any elevation certificate you have, or the seller’s if you are buying
- Foundation type (slab, crawlspace, basement or elevated) and whether the basement is finished
- Your current flood declarations page, if you have one, and your lender’s flood requirements
- Your homeowners declarations page, so the two policies line up
We use that to compare NFIP through Selective with private flood options, side by side, with the differences in coverage, waiting period and limits spelled out. If you are buying, tell us your closing date so the binder is ready in time.
Get a quote
Tell us about the property and we will compare carriers and follow up with options. Prefer to talk? Call (603) 431-4020.
Frequently asked questions
Is flood insurance required in Stratford, CT?
Yes, if the home is in an A or V zone and you have a federally backed mortgage. Otherwise it is optional.
Does homeowners insurance cover storm surge?
No. Storm surge is flood, and it needs a flood policy.
How long until a flood policy starts?
NFIP usually has a 30-day waiting period, with exceptions for some loan closings and map changes. Some private flood policies can start sooner.
Can I get more than $250,000 of flood coverage?
Yes, through a private flood policy or an excess flood policy above the NFIP.
Who writes your NFIP policies?
We write NFIP policies through Selective, and we compare private flood from Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge.
Do you charge fees?
No. We do not charge any fees on any policy we write, including home and flood.