If you renewed your homeowners insurance this summer, you likely saw a new notice: as of July 1, 2026, Connecticut requires insurers to clearly state that standard homeowners and renters policies exclude flood damage and that flood insurance must be purchased separately.
This article details the many reasons why homeowners cannot assume they are safe from flooding, even if they do not live near the coast or a river. For your safety and protection, it’s crucial to understand your flood risk to prevent a flood disaster from compounding into a crushing financial loss if a claim is denied.
Why Connecticut Now Requires a Written Flood Insurance Notice
Connecticut’s new disclosure rule does not add coverage. It simply requires insurers to highlight a key gap that many policyholders miss. The state publishes a Flood Insurance Fact Sheet to help you understand your risks more thoroughly.
Additionally, through Public Act 25-33, the state now requires insurers to add a plain‑language notice to homeowners and renters policies stating that flood damage isn’t covered and that separate flood insurance is available. Insurers had to file their notice by January 31, 2026, and must start using it in all policies issued on or after July 1, 2026.
The law was prompted by the August 2024 storms, which brought up to 16 inches of rain in less than eight hours, causing roads and neighborhoods to flood and resulting in several fatalities. Many affected homes were nowhere near the shoreline. The rule sends a clear message: Flood losses are not limited to waterfront properties. Homeowners should not assume their policy covers damage from water entering from outside.
Flooding Isn’t Limited to High-Risk Flood Zones
Flood insurance is not just for homes in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) high-risk zones. Flooding can occur almost anywhere, and heavy rain, poor drainage, or overflowing storm drains can put any property at risk. In fact, nearly one-third of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims in the past decade came from outside high-risk zones.
Connecticut’s rivers have all flooded during heavy rain, and homes far from water can still be affected. To help homeowners assess risk, the Connecticut Insurance Department now offers a climate-risk mapping tool that goes beyond FEMA maps.
Elevation Doesn’t Equal Safety: The Topography Factor Most Homeowners Miss
Many Connecticut homeowners assume that living at a higher elevation, away from rivers, lakes, or the coast, puts them out of reach of flood damage. Topography tells a different story. Water runs downhill, and a property’s flood risk depends heavily on what’s happening on the terrain above it, not just whether a water source sits nearby.
Litchfield sits in the foothills of the Berkshires, well inland and at a higher elevation than the state’s coastal towns. Yet Litchfield County was one of three counties, along with Fairfield and New Haven, included in the September 2024 major disaster declaration President Biden approved after the historic August 18-19, 2024 storm. Runoff from higher ground overwhelmed drainage systems and waterways, and the damage had little to do with proximity to a lake, river, or the shoreline.
This is the piece of the flood risk equation that catches even careful homeowners off guard. A property doesn’t need to sit near a designated water source to take on floodwater. Steep or hilly terrain nearby can funnel heavy rainfall downhill fast, and a home at the bottom of that slope, or along a natural drainage path, can flood even during a storm that never reaches the coast. Reviewing the topography around your property, not just its distance from the nearest river or shoreline, gives a fuller picture of your actual exposure.
A Closer Look at Connecticut’s Free Climate Risk Mapping Tool
The Connecticut Insurance Department partnered with First Street, a climate risk analytics provider, to launch a free climate risk mapping tool for state residents.
Enter any Connecticut address, and the tool generates a property-specific risk assessment covering five categories: flood, fire, wind, air quality, and extreme heat. The flood data draws on First Street’s physics-based climate models, which are peer-reviewed and go beyond the static boundaries on a FEMA flood map. Instead of a simple in-zone or out-of-zone label, homeowners get a clearer picture of how factors like rainfall patterns and local drainage affect their specific property, both now and as conditions shift in the years ahead.
This makes the tool a useful companion to your FEMA flood zone lookup, not a replacement for a conversation with your agent. Use it to get a sense of your exposure, then talk through what the results mean for your coverage with an independent agent who knows the Connecticut market.
‘I’m Not in a Flood Zone. Does That Mean I Don’t Need Flood Insurance?’
Not necessarily. A FEMA Zone X means your property is less likely to flood than those in high-risk zones. It does not mean flooding is impossible.
Even a few inches of floodwater can cause major damage. Flooring, drywall, insulation, electrical systems, and anything stored in a basement may need repair or replacement. Standard homeowners insurance excludes damage from surface water entering the home. Such claims are denied unless you have separate flood insurance.
What Connecticut Homeowners Should Do Next
Although your FEMA flood zone map is a good start, you cannot solely rely on it to evaluate your risk. As your independent insurance agency, we can help you become aware of all the ways water could reach your property:
- Review your FEMA flood zone and discuss what it does and doesn’t indicate.
- Consider localized flooding risks, including drainage issues, nearby streams, elevation and runoff patterns, and recent rainfall.
- Compare NFIP and private flood insurance options.
- Determine whether coverage limits match the cost to repair your home and replace your belongings.
- Understand policy waiting periods, as flood insurance typically doesn’t take effect immediately after purchase.
We’ve previously covered why it’s too late to get covered before a major storm is forecast. By the time a storm is announced, even before it hits, it is too late to buy flood insurance. Standard policies have a waiting period before coverage starts. To protect your assets, you must buy coverage before flood season so your policy is active when you need it.
Don’t Let Your Address Create a False Sense of Security
Recent storms have shown that flood damage is not limited to coastal areas or homes near rivers. Homes far from water can still face significant flood losses, which are not covered by standard homeowners insurance.
If you are not sure whether flood insurance is right for your home, talk to an independent agent at Brooks, Todd & McNeil. We will do a professional, comprehensive review of your property’s exposure, explain your options, and give you a quote based on your actual risk, not just your flood zone.
FAQ About Flood Insurance
Understanding these facts is the first step. Now, we’ll look at how Connecticut law addresses flood insurance coverage.
Do I need flood insurance if I’m not in a flood zone?
Yes, in many cases. Flood claims often come from outside FEMA’s high-risk zones. Heavy rain, poor drainage, and local flooding can affect homes in any neighborhood.
Can homes at higher elevations still flood?
Yes. Homes sitting below or along runoff paths from hills or higher terrain can flood during heavy rain, even far from any lake, river, or coastline. Litchfield County’s inclusion in Connecticut’s 2024 federal disaster declaration is one example.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage in Connecticut?
No. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. You need a separate flood insurance policy, either through the NFIP or a private insurer.
What is Connecticut’s new flood insurance disclosure law?
Effective July 1, 2026, Public Act 25-33 requires insurers to provide written notice that homeowners and renters policies do not cover flood damage and that separate flood insurance is available.
How can I check my flood risk?
Check FEMA’s flood maps first, but do not rely on them alone. The Connecticut Insurance Department’s free climate risk mapping tool, built with First Street, lets you enter your address for a property-specific flood risk assessment that accounts for rainfall-driven flooding not always shown on FEMA maps.
About the Author
Stephen G. Todd, CPCU CIC is owner, President and CEO of Brooks, Todd & McNeil, bringing more than three decades of experience across underwriting, claims, and agency leadership. He began his career with Travelers Insurance Company, where he held roles in Home Office Finance, National Account Claims litigation, before serving as a commercial lines underwriter with American States Insurance Company. Since joining Brooks, Todd & McNeil in 1991, Stephen has led key operational areas and helped drive innovation, including the development of the insurance industry’s first real-time personal lines comparative rating system. A recognized industry leader, he has served on numerous carrier advisory councils and remains actively involved in both professional and community organizations.
About Brooks, Todd & McNeil
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