How Much Is Flood Insurance in Texas? Average Flood Insurance Cost and Coverage

Damages caused by floods are typically not covered by homeowners or renters insurance. To protect yourself from this risk, purchase a separate flood insurance policy.

Flood insurance costs vary based on the flood risk of your area and individual property risks, such as your home’s elevation, physical structure and rebuilding cost.

You can check a local flood map to see your area’s flood risk. Getting flood insurance — even if you live in a low-risk area — will help you avoid shouldering exorbitant flood damage costs. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), even an inch of water can cost up to $25,000 in damages to a home.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Cost of Flood Insurance in Texas
• Flood Insurance Companies in Texas
• Flood Insurance Coverage
• Flood Insurance Cost Factors in Texas
• Do You Need Flood Insurance?
• Texas Flood Insurance FAQs

The average cost of flood insurance in Texas is $678 per year. However, your rate may vary based on the flood risk of your county. Insurance for homes within moderate-risk or high-risk flood zones is usually more expensive.

The average flood insurance policy in the state of Texas is $90 cheaper than the national average. However, your county’s flood risk will significantly affect your rate.

MoneyGeek found that flood insurance is cheapest in Lorain County, where premiums average $137 per year. On the other hand, Hudspeth County is the most expensive at $5,887 per year. See the table below to learn more about average flood insurance rates in other Texas counties.

Many people buy flood insurance policies from the NFIP, but you can also get them from private insurance companies. They typically have a base policy (similar to NFIP policies) and an excess policy (supplemental coverage for a base policy). Ultimately, private providers are ideal for households that find the NFIP coverage lacking and those that aren’t in an NFIP community.

The NFIP has partner companies in Texas that also provide flood insurance coverage. Check the table below for the complete list of NFIP-participating insurance providers in the state.

Purchasing flood insurance is usually easy since there are no special requirements. Call the NFIP hotline at 877-336-2627 or reach out to your home insurance agent.

MoneyGeek recommends getting your flood insurance policy as soon as possible. The NFIP has a 30-day waiting period for its policies to take effect, whereas most private insurance companies in Texas have at least a 10-day waiting period. Call your provider to confirm.

Just an inch of flood water can cost nearly $25,000 in damages to a home. Flood insurance can help cover the cost of repairing or replacing your home structure and belongings.

Flood insurance coverage is limited to personal items and buildings. It doesn’t cover damages to swimming pools, decks, patios, landscaping, cash, paperwork or basement items. Similarly, vehicle flooding coverage is not included in a flood insurance policy.

In flood insurance, building coverage pays for repairing and replacing your home structure. With an NFIP policy, you can usually purchase up to $250,000 worth of building coverage.

Some of the things that flood insurance can cover are:

• Foundation walls
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• Furnaces, central heating and air conditioning
• Built-in appliances
• Permanent carpets
• Built-in furniture

Another type of flood insurance coverage is contents coverage, which pays for repairing or replacing your personal belongings. The contents coverage limit for an NFIP policy is usually $100,000.

The following list contains some of the personal items commonly covered by flood insurance:

• Clothing
• Furniture
• Electronic equipment
• Washers and dryers
• Artwork

Until recently, flood insurance costs were determined based on your home’s location on a flood map. FEMA’s website has an online tool that shows a state’s flood risk and potential flood-related costs.

Out of the Texas counties for which MoneyGeek has cost data, Dallam County has had the fewest flooding events (eleven) since 1996, whereas Bexar County has the most flooding events (215). The average cost of a flood insurance policy in Dallam County is $949 per year. Bexar County is $781 per year.

In October 2021, FEMA implemented its Risk Rating 2.0 system, which bases rates on individual property risks. Unlike the previous method — which focused on flood zone proximity — Risk Rating 2.0 incorporates variables like your home’s elevation, physical structure and rebuilding costs.

This new pricing methodology promises fairer and more accurate premiums for flood insurance. However, your location will still heavily impact the final rate you’ll get. The list below further explains some factors that influence the cost of your Texas flood insurance today.

If you live in a high-risk flood zone, government-backed mortgages and lenders will require you to purchase flood insurance. However, every property is vulnerable to flooding. We encourage those living in low- or moderate-risk flood zones to consider a policy for additional protection.

Homeowners and renters insurance don’t usually cover flood damage. You’ll need to purchase a separate policy from the NFIP or a private insurer. It’s worth noting that flood insurance providers will pay claims without an official disaster declaration and offer more compensation than federal assistance. By comparison, federal disaster grants are capped at $5,000 per household.

Flood insurance coverage can offer you peace of mind, knowing that your most important and expensive asset is financially protected in the event of flooding.

MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions below to help you learn more about flood insurance in Texas.