Mississippi Flood Insurance

Find the Best Flood Insurance Rates and Companies in Mississippi

Mississippi is home to numerous rivers, including, of course, the Mighty Mississippi River. As such, the state is especially prone to damaging flood disasters, which can cause catastrophic losses without the right coverage. Since standard homeowners insurance and business insurance policies won't provide coverage for natural flood damage, it's critical to have flood insurance. 

Fortunately, a local independent insurance agent in Mississippi can help you find the right flood insurance policy for your unique property. They know how much coverage is necessary, whether your property is residential or commercial. Until then, here's a deep dive into Mississippi flood insurance, including coverage, average costs, and more. 

The Best Flood Insurance Companies in Mississippi

Flood insurance is available from a handful of private flood insurance companies in Mississippi. Here are our top recommendations for quality flood insurance coverage in Mississippi. 

• Progressive: This insurer sells flood insurance, along with several other personal and business insurance products. Progressive has an excellent financial strength rating from AM Best, offers many discounts, and provides 24/7/365 customer service.
• REInsure Pro: This insurer also sells flood insurance, along with many types of personal insurance products. REInsure Pro works with independent insurance agents and offers fast claims responses.

A local independent insurance agent can help you compare Mississippi flood insurance quotes and coverage options from these carriers and others near you. 

How to buy flood insurance in Mississippi

In Mississippi, flood insurance is available from FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and from private insurance companies located throughout the state. You might find that private flood insurance in MS comes with higher coverage limits than NFIP flood insurance. Working with a local independent insurance agent can be the easiest way to secure coverage. These agents have access to multiple flood insurance carriers in your area, so they're free to compare policies and rates to find the best deal.

Is Flood Insurance Required in Mississippi? 

Sometimes, yes. Mississippi flood insurance can be required for property owners who have government-backed mortgages. Flood insurance coverage can also be mandatory for properties located in high-risk flood zones. Regardless of whether coverage is required, though, it can be beneficial to have it. Since standard home and business insurance won't reimburse you for natural flood damage, you could face potentially serious out-of-pocket losses without the right flood coverage. 

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What Does Flood Insurance Cover in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, flood insurance is designed to cover natural flood damage to a property's structure, foundation, and contents. This coverage breaks down as follows. 

• Contents coverage: This covers your personal property and other contents stored inside the insured building, including the following:
  • Freezers and the food inside
  • Clothes washers and dryers
  • Certain valuable items, such as original artwork and furs, up to $2,500
  • Portable microwave ovens and portable dishwashers
  • Portable and window air conditioners
  • Carpets that are not included in building coverage
  • Clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment
  • Curtains
• Buildings coverage: This covers a building's structure, including its foundation and the following:
  • Permanently installed cabinets, paneling, and bookcases
  • Refrigerators, cooking stoves, and built-in appliances like dishwashers
  • Electrical and plumbing systems
  • Window blinds
  • Foundation walls, anchorage systems, and staircases
  • Permanently installed carpeting
  • Fuel tanks, well water tanks and pumps, and solar energy equipment
  • Furnaces and water heaters
  • Detached garages

Work with a local independent insurance agent in Mississippi to get set up with a flood policy that includes all the necessary coverage in each category. 

What's Not Covered by Flood Insurance in Mississippi? 

In Mississippi, flood insurance doesn't cover damage to any vehicles, even that caused by natural flooding events. It's critical to add comprehensive coverage to an auto insurance policy to avoid having to pay for flood damage to your vehicle. In addition, Mississippi flood insurance won't cover:

• Currency, precious metals, and valuable papers such as stock certificates 
• Personal property kept in a basement
• Financial losses caused by business interruption or loss of use of the insured property
• Preventable damage caused by moisture, mildew, or mold
• Property and belongings outside of the insured building, such as trees, plants, wells, septic systems, seawalls, hot tubs, swimming pools, walks, decks, patios, and fences
• Additional living expenses, such as temporary housing
• Flood damage caused by sewer line breaks or backups*

*It's possible to add a sewer backup endorsement to your Mississippi home insurance policy to get this kind of coverage. Your independent insurance agent can help. 

How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost in Mississippi?

Mississippi flood insurance costs an average of $1,058 per year, or approximately $88 per month. This is quite a bit more expensive than the current national average flood insurance rate of $899 per year, or approximately $75 per month. 

Local flood insurance rates are set by FEMA and the NFIP using the Mississippi flood insurance rate map. Further, Mississippi flood insurance rates can be impacted by the following:

• Your home's flood zone designation
• The location, design, building materials, and age of your home
• The value of your home’s contents 
• The type of coverage you purchased
• Whether or not your home has a basement
• The deductible and amount of coverage you need

Your independent insurance agent can help you find the most affordable flood insurance coverage in Mississippi.

Mississippi Flood Zones

Using FEMA's official website, you can easily get an accurate Mississippi flood risk assessment for your exact location. The following comprehensive and user-friendly documents are available on FEMA's website:

• Mississippi flood zone maps
• Jackson, Mississippi flood maps
• Mississippi flood zone map PDFS
• Mississippi flood plain maps

Your Mississippi flood zone designation can impact your flood insurance premium rates. An independent insurance agent can help you find cheap flood insurance in Mississippi. 

Mississippi cities with the highest flood risk

Mississippi ranks number nine on the top 10 most flood-prone states in the U.S. Certain areas of the state are more at risk of flooding, including the following cities:

1. Bay St. Louis
2. Pass Christian
3. Pearlington

Flood insurance may be required for properties in these Mississippi cities. Your independent insurance agent can help you get set up with all the Mississippi flood insurance coverage necessary. 

The Best Flood Insurance Discounts in Mississippi

You can score Mississippi flood insurance discounts wherever you get your coverage, depending on the specific savings options available from the carrier. 

• FEMA: This organization offers flood insurance discounts for some newly mapped properties and for those in communities that participate in the Community Rating System. FEMA's discounts range from 5% to 45% and are determined by a property's classification.
• Private flood insurance companies: Private flood insurance companies in Mississippi offer various flood insurance discounts, such as those for properties with flood-proofing measures or for individuals affiliated with specific organizations. 

Working with a Mississippi independent insurance agent is a great way to find all the flood insurance discounts you're eligible to receive. 

How to Apply for Flood Insurance in Mississippi

Flood insurance coverage in Mississippi is available from three main avenues:

1. FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
2. Private flood insurance companies in Mississippi
3. Local independent insurance agents in Mississippi

Independent insurance agents can help you find the right flood insurance coverage for your unique property, whether you own a home or a business. 

How to File a Flood Insurance Claim in Mississippi

Mississippi flood insurance claims can be filed with just a few easy steps:

1. Contact your insurance company or agent: Prepare your insurance information, including your flood insurance policy number, before calling your flood insurance company or independent insurance agent to report the disaster.
2. Prepare for an inspection: Wait for officials to declare your property safe for reentry after the flood, then assess the property damage for yourself. Prepare a detailed written report, along with photo and video evidence of the destruction, for your insurance company. 
3. Work with your claims adjuster: You'll schedule a visit with a claims adjuster to perform a home inspection. Your adjuster will evaluate the damage in person and may be able to provide you with an estimate for reimbursement. 
4. Receive payment: Finally, you'll receive your claim payout via either direct deposit or a check. The amount of reimbursement you receive will depend on the terms of your policy's coverage and the extent of the covered flood damage.

A Mississippi independent insurance agent can file flood insurance claims directly through your carrier for you. They can also keep you updated throughout the claims process and provide ETAs for receiving reimbursement. Each insurance company has a different timeframe for completing its claims process and issuing claim payouts. 

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Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

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FAQs About Mississippi Flood Insurance