Flood

In flood insurance, a flood is defined as a general and temporary condition in which normally dry land is partially or completely inundated by water.

Under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a flood includes any of the following:

1. Overflow of inland or tidal waters

This includes rivers, streams, lakes, oceans, or tidal waters that rise beyond their normal boundaries.

2. Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters

This can occur due to heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or other conditions that cause water to collect or flow over land that is normally dry.

3. Mudflows (mudslides) caused by flooding

Mudflows are rivers of liquid and flowing mud that occur on normally dry land and are caused by water-saturated soil moving downhill due to flooding. These are different from landslides caused by earth movement alone.

A flood can also include:

4. Flood-related erosion or undermining of land

This applies when land along a lake, river, or other body of water collapses or subsides due to waves or currents exceeding normal cyclical levels, resulting in flooding.

To qualify as a flood under NFIP rules, the event must affect two or more properties or two or more acres of land, at least one of which is owned by the policyholder.