Flood Re in the UK
Flood Re is a joint government and insurance industry reinsurance scheme that lets insurers offer more affordable flood cover to eligible households in high-risk areas. You don’t buy from Flood Re directly: you buy home insurance from an insurer that uses the scheme. Broadly, eligible homes are residential, insured by individuals, and built before 1 January 2009; some landlord, leasehold and commercial arrangements are excluded. The scheme is designed to end in 2039, with the aim of moving to risk-reflective pricing. Use Flood Re’s own eligibility checker for your home. More in Flood Re explained.
The US National Flood Insurance Program
The NFIP, managed by FEMA, offers flood insurance for buildings and contents in participating communities, sold through insurance agents and companies. Residential limits are up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents. Policies usually take effect after a 30-day waiting period. If your home is in a high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area and has a federally backed mortgage, flood insurance is required.
The NFIP depends on Congress for reauthorization, which has been extended many times in short bursts. As of mid-October 2026 it’s authorized until 11 December 2026. See what an NFIP lapse would mean. Private flood insurers are an alternative in many states and may offer higher limits.
Flood resilience
- Sign up for official flood warnings (Environment Agency in England, SEPA, Natural Resources Wales; NOAA and local alerts in the US).
- Consider property flood resilience measures such as flood doors, non-return valves and raised sockets.
- Keep a flood plan and important documents in a waterproof bag.
- Some UK insurers offer “Build Back Better” funding to add resilience measures after a flood claim.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
