Many Florida homeowners are shocked when they realize, only after their home has flooded and they have suffered thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars of resulting uncovered losses, that their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance does not cover damage caused by flooding. Most homeowner’s insurance policies include a water exclusion that provides that damage caused by, among other things, flooding, pipe leaks, or sewage backups are not covered by the policy. Standard homeowner’s and renter’s policies provide limited coverage for damage caused by rain in certain limited circumstances, but homeowners (or renters) need to obtain separate and specific flood insurance coverage to ensure they are protected. Protecting your home and all that you own is not complete simply by procuring homeowner’s or renter’s insurance; flood coverage is an essential element of your insurance portfolio, particularly if you live in South Florida.