What does coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program primarily protect?

Coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program primarily protects structures permanently affixed to a site. This includes residential buildings such as houses and commercial properties that are built on a foundation, which means they are not designed for mobility. The program provides financial assistance to homeowners and businesses affected by flooding, aimed at rebuilding or repairing these fixed structures.

This focus on permanent structures is essential because flood risk is generally associated with property that is established in a specific location where it can be impacted by rising water levels. While contents inside buildings can have separate flood coverage under certain policies, the primary intent of the National Flood Insurance Program is to safeguard the integrity and value of the actual buildings themselves against flood damage. Additionally, mobile homes and vehicles, as well as temporary structures, may have different forms of insurance that address their unique vulnerabilities and risks related to floods, but they do not fall under the scope of primary coverage offered by this program.