No matter if you own your home or rent, no one wants to see their happy place flooded. Since Tennessee has had its fair share of major flooding events, it’s critical for renters to have proper protection for their homes against these costly and damaging disasters. That’s why it’s important to know what your renters insurance covers and when. For starters, here’s a closer look at renters insurance and flooding, and why you just might need additional flood insurance.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Flooding in Tennessee?

Well, it depends on what type of flooding you’re talking about. Flooding caused by nonnatural events such as burst pipes or broken appliances within the home is often covered by standard renters policies in Tennessee. However, flooding caused by natural disasters like hurricanes and monsoons is never covered by renters insurance anywhere in the country. If you live an area prone to natural flooding of any kind, you’ll need to look into flood insurance.

When Does Renters Insurance Cover Flooding in Tennessee?

Unfortunately, if it’s due to a thunderstorm or other natural disaster, the answer is never. Flooding due to storms is not covered by renters insurance, period. The only time your renters insurance will cover water damage that could be deemed “flooding” within the home is if it’s caused by broken pipes or appliances, not by Mother Nature. However, if your home is flooded due to busted pipes, etc. your renters policy provides the following coverage:

• Personal property damage: Covers damage to or destruction of your personal belongings like furniture, clothing, electronics, etc. from nonnatural sources of flooding.  

A Tennessee independent insurance agent can further explain the coverage for flooding included in your renters insurance policy. If you’re concerned about flooding due to natural sources like storms, your agent can also point you in the right direction of getting flood insurance to further protect your home.

If Renters Insurance Doesn’t Cover Flooding, What Will?

You'll need a flood insurance policy for natural sources of flooding, and there’s really no way around it. Flood insurance for renters is designed to protect your personal belongings if they get damaged or destroyed by natural water (e.g., rain, waves, etc.). Often, water must cover at least two acres of land for reimbursement to qualify.

Flood coverage is excluded in many standard insurance policies like homeowners, renters, and business insurance in Tennessee due to the extreme costs of property damage by water inundation. Without proper coverage, renters have to pay for personal property damages out of pocket. Flood insurance is only available through the National Flood Insurance Program which is a part of FEMA.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover in Tennessee?

Similar to renters policies in Tennessee, flood insurance is designed to protect your stuff. But since these standard policies exclude flood damage specifically, that’s where flood insurance steps in to fill the void.

Flood insurance policies for renters in Tennessee cover the following:

• Damage to/loss of your stuff: Known as “contents coverage,” this includes furniture (built-in and free-standing), smaller/not built-in appliances, some food, valuables and clothing.

It’s important to note that any depreciation of your property's value will be factored into what a flood insurance policy will pay towards reimbursement for damages, depending on the type of claim filed. Certain types of claims will only qualify for actual current cash value reimbursement, while others will qualify for the full original replacement cost.

How Can I Prevent Damage from Flooding?

While having an insurance policy that covers flooding is fantastic, it’s perhaps even better to prevent flood damage to your home in the first place. Fortunately, there are a handful of action steps you can take today to help protect your home against potential future flood damage:

• Clear all gutters, drains, and downspouts from debris to allow water to flow naturally.
• Place any major appliances on the ground or basement level on concrete blocks.
• Apply sealants or coatings to walls to prevent water from entering and spreading through your home.
• Install at least two foundation vents in your home if you live in an area at high-risk for flooding.
• If there’s a flood warning or watch, move all rugs to upper levels in the home, unplug/move/elevate electronics, and shut off power if water enters the home.
• For any outside equipment like AC units and fuel tanks, raise the devices off the ground and anchor them in place so they are secure.
• Keep all wiring, surge protectors, etc., at least a foot above the floor at all times.

Though many flood protection measures are much more time-consuming and costly, luckily there are several actions available to take that are much easier, cheaper, and faster. They could also seriously improve your chances of avoiding flood damage to your home.

Why Work with a Tennessee Independent Insurance Agent?

In order to get the protection you need and deserve, you’ll want to work with a trusted expert. And who could be better for the job than a local agent who shares your area code? Independent insurance agents act as your own personal insurance shoppers, offering you tons more options than one-policy companies. With just one call, they’ll hook you up with multiple quotes.

Tennessee independent insurance agents are armed with knowledge on what coverage is needed in your area, and they’ll get you set up with just enough of it — not too little, not too much. They’ll handle all the heavy lifting so you can rest assured you’ll be set up with the right coverage at the right price.

They’re not just there at the beginning either. If disaster strikes, your Tennessee agent will be there to help walk you through the claims process and make sure you’re getting the benefits you're entitled to. Now that’s thinking ahead.