Flood Insurance in New Hampshire and Connecticut

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We write flood insurance for homes in New Hampshire and Connecticut. Most homeowners insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, so flood coverage is a separate policy. We’ll help you figure out whether you need one and what your options are.

40+ carriers · New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google · 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials.

Ready to compare? Request a flood insurance quote or call us at (603) 431-4020. You can request a flood quote with no obligation to buy.

Flooded road sign, a reminder that flood damage isn't covered by most homeowners policies in New Hampshire or Connecticut

Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?

Usually not. According to FEMA, most homeowners and renters policies don’t cover flood damage, and only a flood insurance policy will help you recover after a flood (FloodSmart.gov). That goes for renters insurance too.

To get flood coverage, you need a separate policy, either through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or from a private flood insurance company. We offer both.

Do I need flood insurance?

If your lender requires it. If your home is in a high-risk flood area (zones starting with A or V on FEMA’s flood maps) and you have a government-backed mortgage, you must carry flood insurance. It’s a federal rule, so it’s the same in New Hampshire and Connecticut. FEMA says homes in these areas have a 1 in 4 chance of flooding at least once over a 30-year mortgage (FloodSmart.gov).

Even if your lender doesn’t. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP flood claims (29%) came from outside high-risk flood areas (FloodSmart.gov). A heavy rainstorm can put water in a basement far from the ocean.

Don’t count on disaster aid. Federal disaster assistance is only available after a presidential disaster declaration, which most floods don’t get, and it usually comes as a loan you repay with interest. If a home has received federal disaster assistance before, it must have flood insurance to qualify again, and that requirement stays with the property when it’s sold (FloodSmart.gov).

Not sure of your flood zone? We run flood zone determinations for our current clients, our referral partners, and new clients who are buying a home. You can also check your flood zone with our lookup tool, which uses FEMA’s flood maps.

Flood insurance in New Hampshire

Our Portsmouth office writes flood insurance for homeowners across New Hampshire, from Seacoast towns like Rye, Hampton and New Castle to homes near rivers and lakes inland. Whether you need flood coverage, and which kind makes sense, depends on your address, the house, and your mortgage.

Seacoast New Hampshire homes

Seacoast homeowners in Portsmouth, Rye, New Castle, Hampton and Hampton Beach, North Hampton, Seabrook, Greenland and Newington face storm surge, nor’easters and tidal flooding, and some inland Seacoast homes sit near brooks or low drainage. Your FEMA flood zone, such as AE or the coastal high-hazard VE zone found along parts of the Seacoast, affects whether flood insurance is required and how it is rated. An elevation certificate shows how high the home sits relative to the expected flood level and can help with rating, especially on waterfront and older homes. If you have one from a purchase or survey, send it with your quote request. For town-by-town flood risk, see our guide to flood insurance on the Seacoast. For coastal homes beyond flood, see our page on coastal home insurance in New Hampshire. For a town-level example, see flood insurance in Hampton, NH.

Other town guides cover North Hampton flood insurance and Hampton Falls flood insurance.

Flood damage vs. water damage

Where the water comes from decides whether a claim is covered. Flood damage comes from outside the home: surface water from heavy rain, fast snowmelt or storm surge that seeps in through the foundation is generally treated as flood, and a homeowners policy won’t pay for it. Water damage that starts inside, such as a burst pipe, is usually covered by homeowners. The size of the loss doesn’t change that. This is one of the most common reasons basement claims are denied, and homes outside flood zones flood too.

To get a flood quote, share the property address, whether you have a mortgage or a pending closing, and any elevation certificate or prior flood policy. We compare NFIP and private options side by side (limits, deductibles and timing), alongside homeowners options from 40+ carriers, with no obligation. Call our Portsmouth office at (603) 431-4020.

Buying a home in a Seacoast flood zone? If your lender requires flood insurance, the policy has to be in place by closing. We work directly with your lender and title company to get you ready for closing. We confirm the flood zone and the coverage amount the loan requires, then send proof of the flood policy along with your homeowners binder.

Flood insurance in Connecticut

We write flood insurance for Connecticut homeowners, including shoreline towns on Long Island Sound like Stratford, Milford, Fairfield and Norwalk. As in New Hampshire, the right coverage depends on where the home sits, how it’s built, and what your lender requires. See Stratford, CT flood insurance.

If you own a home on or near the Connecticut shoreline, see our article on insuring a coastal Connecticut home.

Flood insurance in Maine and Massachusetts

We’re licensed in Maine and Massachusetts too, and we write flood insurance for homes in both states from our Portsmouth office, including coastal and second homes in southern Maine towns like York and Kittery and along the Massachusetts coast. The same two options apply: NFIP flood policies, which we place mainly through Selective, a Write Your Own carrier, and private flood policies from Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge. Which private carriers can write a given home depends on the property and the state.

For more on home coverage in those states, see our guides to Maine homeowners and second home insurance, Massachusetts homeowners insurance and coastal Massachusetts high-value home insurance.

What flood insurance covers

An NFIP policy covers direct physical flood damage to your home and belongings. Building and contents coverage are bought separately, and each has its own deductible (FloodSmart.gov).

Building coverage protects the structure and its systems, for example:

  • Electrical and plumbing systems
  • Furnaces and water heaters
  • Refrigerators, stoves and built-in appliances like dishwashers
  • Permanently installed carpeting, cabinets and paneling
  • Window blinds
  • Foundation walls, anchorage systems and staircases
  • Detached garages

Contents coverage protects your belongings, for example:

  • Clothing, furniture and electronics
  • Curtains
  • Washer and dryer
  • Portable and window air conditioners
  • Valuable items such as original artwork and furs (up to $2,500)

Basements have limited coverage. Under an NFIP policy, building coverage in a basement is limited to a specific list of items, like furnaces, water heaters, sump pumps, electrical boxes and foundation elements, and they have to be installed and connected. Contents coverage in a basement is limited to a few items, like washers, dryers and freezers. Finished basements and most belongings kept in a basement aren’t covered (FEMA basement fact sheet).

What an NFIP policy doesn’t cover, no matter what caused the flood (FloodSmart.gov):

  • Property outside the insured building, such as landscaping, septic systems, decks, patios, fences and swimming pools
  • Temporary housing and extra living expenses while your home is repaired
  • Cars and most other vehicles
  • Cash, precious metals, stock certificates and other valuable papers

The cause of the water matters, too. For example, an NFIP policy covers damage from a sewer that backed up during a heavy rainstorm, but not a backup caused by clogged pipes.

NFIP and private flood: we compare both

We’re an independent agency, so we aren’t tied to one insurance company. We compare NFIP and private flood options from several carriers and walk you through the differences in coverage, limits, deductibles and waiting periods for your home.

NFIP policies. NFIP rates are set by FEMA and don’t change based on which agent or company sells you the policy (FloodSmart.gov). We can write NFIP policies through several companies, and we mainly place them through Selective, a Write Your Own carrier. Write Your Own companies sell and service NFIP policies under their own names, and the federal government backs the losses (FEMA). An NFIP policy on a home covers up to $250,000 for the building and up to $100,000 for contents (FloodSmart.gov).

Private flood policies. Some private policies offer higher limits, temporary living expenses or more basement coverage. For example, Neptune Flood offers building coverage up to $15 million (Neptune), compared with the NFIP’s $250,000 limit on building coverage for a home (FloodSmart.gov). Private pricing and terms vary by company and by property.

Will my lender accept private flood? Lenders generally accept private flood policies that meet federal requirements. Federal rules require regulated lenders to accept private flood insurance that meets the legal definition and the mortgage’s coverage requirement (FDIC). We’ll check your policy against your lender’s requirements before closing.

Flood insurance companies we work with (listed alphabetically):

  • Aon Edge
  • Beyond Floods
  • CatCoverage
  • Flow Flood
  • Neptune Flood
  • Selective Flood
  • The Flood Insurance Agency

Which companies can offer a policy depends on the property and the state.

What affects the price

We can’t quote a price until we know the property. For an NFIP policy, three things set your rate: where the home is built, how it’s built, and what it would cost to replace. Things like the foundation type, how high the first floor sits, where your furnace and water heater are, and the deductible you choose all play a part. Homes in lower-risk areas generally pay less than comparable homes in higher-risk areas (FloodSmart.gov). An elevation certificate isn’t required, but it can help lower an NFIP price (FloodSmart.gov).

When coverage starts

Flood insurance isn’t something you can buy when a storm is in the forecast. An NFIP policy usually takes effect 30 days after you buy it. There’s no wait if you buy it when you take out, increase, extend or renew a mortgage, and there’s a one-day wait if your property was just mapped into a high-risk flood zone and you buy within 12 months of the map change (FloodSmart.gov).

Private flood companies often offer much shorter waiting periods than the NFIP’s standard 30 days.

Flood Insurance FAQs

Does homeowners insurance cover flooding in New Hampshire or Connecticut?

No. Standard homeowners policies in both states exclude flood, along with surface water and, usually, sewer or drain backup. Both state insurance departments list these exclusions. To cover flood you need a separate policy, either through the National Flood Insurance Program or from a private flood company. We write both and can compare them for your home.

Is flood insurance required in New Hampshire or Connecticut?

Only in certain cases, and the rule is federal, so it’s the same in both states. If your home is in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (zones starting with A or V) and your mortgage is from a federally regulated or federally backed lender, flood insurance is required for the life of the loan. Any lender can require it elsewhere.

How long does it take for flood insurance to start?

An NFIP policy usually takes effect 30 days after you buy it. There’s no wait if you buy it when you take out, increase, extend or renew a mortgage, as long as you apply and pay by closing. Private flood policies usually have shorter waiting periods, which can matter when a storm season is close.

How much flood coverage can I get?

An NFIP policy on a home covers up to $250,000 for the building and up to $100,000 for contents. If your home would cost more than that to rebuild, private flood, such as Neptune, offers higher dwelling limits than the NFIP’s $250,000. Some private policies can also sit on top of an NFIP policy as excess coverage. We’ll compare both for your home.

Will my mortgage lender accept private flood insurance?

Usually, yes. Since July 2019, federal rules require regulated lenders to accept a private flood policy that meets the legal definition of private flood insurance and the coverage amount on the loan. Lenders can also accept some other private policies at their discretion. We check the policy against your lender’s requirements before closing so nothing holds things up.

How do I find out what flood zone my home is in?

Look up your address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. In New Hampshire, new coastal maps for Rockingham County took effect January 29, 2021, so older information may be out of date. We also run flood zone determinations for clients and people buying a home, and we can explain what the zone means for your premium and your lender.

Do you write flood insurance in Maine and Massachusetts?

Yes. We’re licensed in both states and can quote NFIP flood policies, placed mainly through Selective, and private flood policies from carriers such as Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge. Which private options are available depends on the home and the state.

Does flood insurance cover my car or my yard?

No. NFIP flood policies don’t cover cars, and they generally exclude landscaping, fences, decks, pools and other property outside the insured building. Flood damage to a car is usually covered by the comprehensive coverage on your auto policy, if you carry it.

Can renters get flood insurance?

Yes. Renters in communities that take part in the NFIP can buy contents-only flood coverage for their belongings, and some private flood carriers offer it too. A standard renters policy does not cover flood damage.

Can you insure flood for a condo, second home or rental?

Usually, yes. Condo associations often carry a building flood policy, so unit owners may need contents or their own unit coverage. Second homes and rentals can be insured through the NFIP or a private carrier, though eligibility and coverage differ by policy. Tell us how the property is used and we’ll compare the options that fit.

Does an elevation certificate matter for flood insurance?

It can. An elevation certificate shows how high the home sits relative to the expected flood level and can help with rating, especially on waterfront and older homes in zones like AE or VE. If you have one from a past purchase or survey, send it to us when you request a quote.

Does requesting a flood insurance quote obligate me to buy?

No. Request a quote, and there’s no obligation to buy.

What our clients say

From our client surveys. Comments are lightly edited for typos only.

Jon is super helpful and amazingly communicative. He responds fast with well thought out answers making the process of getting insurance for my home and car super simple.

Andrew U., Dover, NH

Very informative, responsive, and helpful with answering any questions we had. Helped us get the best deal and coverage, explained the differences between coverage options, and let us choose what worked best for us. Highly recommend!

Lori R., Londonderry, NH

Excellent guidance on insurance options and fantastic quoting and onboarding experience. We trust their recommendations and feel that we have best coverage for peace of mind at best possible cost.

David M., Collinsville, CT

Read more client testimonials

Get a flood quote

If you’d like to compare NFIP and private flood options, request a flood insurance quote and we’ll show you which coverage fits your property. You can also call (603) 431-4020 or email insure@portsmouthatlanticins.com.

40+ carriers · New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google · 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials. Request a quote. There’s no obligation to buy.

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We’re licensed in 10 states: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont. Our office is in Portsmouth, NH. We serve Connecticut from our Connecticut office and by phone, email and online.

Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO at Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

Jon founded Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance in 2005. We are a family-owned independent agency licensed in 10 states, we compare coverage from 40+ carriers, and we are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials. Meet our team.

Last reviewed September 2026.

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