Coastal and waterfront homes in NH and Maine often face two separate insurance challenges: wind and storm exposure that some standard carriers limit or exclude, and flood risk that homeowners insurance never covers at all. Both are solvable, but they usually require pulling from more than one market and understanding what each policy actually covers.
Wind/Storm vs. Flood
These are always separate coverages. A standard or surplus lines homeowners policy may cover wind and storm damage, but flood damage, from rising water, storm surge, or heavy rain overwhelming drainage, is only covered by a separate flood policy.
Why Some Standard Carriers Pull Back From Coastal Exposure
Concentrated catastrophe risk along the coast leads some carriers to limit new business or non-renew existing policies in certain zip codes, independent of any individual home’s condition.
What a Surplus Lines Wind/Storm Policy Typically Looks Like
Coverage built specifically for coastal wind exposure, often with different deductible structures for named storms, placed with carriers that specialize in this risk rather than avoid it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is flood insurance included in homeowners insurance?
No. Flood damage is excluded from virtually all standard and surplus lines homeowners policies and requires a separate flood policy.
Why did my coastal home get declined by a standard carrier?
Often due to concentrated catastrophe exposure in that specific area rather than anything specific to the individual property.
Do I need separate wind and flood policies?
In many coastal areas, yes. Wind/storm coverage and flood coverage are underwritten and purchased separately.
