After the devastating 1995 floods, only about 9 percent of the thousands of damaged homes in California were covered by flood insurance. Flood insurance covers damage to a building and its contents, including a home's foundation, flooring, walls and furniture. It also covers independent structures such as sheds and fences. Contents of sheds, garages and similar structures are also covered. Anyone can purchase coverage.
Renters pay less because only their contents are covered.
Premiums vary from community to community, even from house to house along the same street, depending on the structure's location on floodplain rate maps. Anyone interested in purchasing flood insurance should contact their insurance agents as soon as possible because there is a 30-day waiting period before a home is covered. All communities in Santa Clara County participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.