It’s monsoon time…is your home covered for flash floods?

PHOENIX — Most Valley residents think they’re covered for flash floods this monsoon season, thanks to a basic homeowner’s policy.

“Flood insurance is not covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy,” said Catherine O’Neil with the Arizona Department of Insurance. “So if you need coverage for floods, you would have to go through the National Flood Insurance program.”

This is pretty standard as homeowners insurance policies go, she said.

“If there’s a bad storm that blows off your roof and water gets in your house…that would be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy,” she said. “But if there’s water on the ground and it flows into your house …that’s flood water, and that’s not covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy.”

Be sure to check your policy. O’Neil added you can get decent coverage for around $300 yearly. That cost will go up or down, however, based on things like if you have a basement, a single-story or double-story home or if you’re in a high-risk flood zone.

“One of the key things to keep in mind is that a flood insurance policy does not go into effect until 30 days after,” she said. “So you can’t wait until rains are close to your neighborhood and you think you’re going to be flooded to purchase the coverage.”

Check here for flood insurance information, tips and what kind you need.