How Much Is Flood Insurance in Tennessee? Average Flood Insurance Cost and Coverage

The average flood insurance cost in Tennessee will depend on where you live as well as individual risk factors, like your home’s ground elevation and proximity to bodies of water.

If you are not sure whether your household is in a flood zone, you can check local maps. MoneyGeek strongly recommends that you get flood insurance if you are in a moderate- or high-risk flood zone. Flood damage can be expensive, and FEMA estimates that even an inch of water can cause up to $25,000 in damages.

Keep in mind that your homeowners or renters insurance policy does not include coverage for natural flooding, so flood insurance is the only way to protect yourself against flood damages.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Cost of Flood Insurance in Tennessee
• Flood Insurance Companies in Tennessee
• Flood Insurance Coverage
• Flood Insurance Cost Factors in Tennessee
• Do You Need Flood Insurance?
• Tennessee Flood Insurance FAQs

In Tennessee, flood insurance costs an average of $998 per year, but this rate can vary depending on your county. If you live in a moderate- or high-risk flood zone, you will pay more for flood insurance.

Tennessee has more flood-prone areas, so flood insurance is more expensive in the state compared to average national rates.

MoneyGeek found that Harris County is the cheapest for flood insurance in Tennessee at an average of $467 per year, while Pickett County is the most expensive at $4,441 per year.

You can use the table below to look up the average flood insurance cost in Tennessee by county.

The NFIP offers flood insurance in Tennessee, but you can also purchase a policy from private insurance companies. Private insurers offer base policies that are similar to NFIP coverage or excess policies that provide supplemental coverage in addition to the base coverage.

If you want more comprehensive coverage than you can get from an NFIP policy or live in a household that is not in an NFIP community, private insurers may be the best option.

The NFIP also offers flood insurance in Tennessee through partner insurance companies. You can look up the list of NFIP-participating providers in the table below.

Buying flood insurance in Tennessee is a simple process with no special requirements. All you need to do is contact the NFIP through their hotline (877-336-2627) or call your home insurance agent. You can also get more options by researching other flood insurance providers.

It’s best to purchase your flood insurance as soon as you can since NFIP policies are subject to a 30-day waiting period. Private providers may also have 10-day waiting periods. Contact your chosen insurer for more information.

Flood insurance will help cover the cost of damages to your home’s structure or its contents in case of a flood. This can help you avoid expensive flooding losses since even an inch of flood water can cost up to $25,000 in damages.

Standard flood insurance policies do not cover damage to swimming pools, cash, decks, patios, paperwork, basement items or cars. If you want to protect your car against flood damage, you should purchase a comprehensive car insurance policy.

The physical structure of your home is covered by flood insurance under building coverage. The NFIP offers building coverage of up to $250,000.

Some of the structures in your home that will be covered under building coverage include:

• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• Built-in appliances
• Built-in furniture
• Permanent carpets
• Foundation walls
• Furnaces, central heating and air conditioning

Flood insurance includes protection for the personal belongings in your home under contents coverage. You can purchase contents coverage of up to $100,000 from the NFIP.

Some of the items protected by contents coverage include:

• Artwork
• Washers and dryers
• Electronic equipment
• Clothing
• Furniture

Location was the only factor in the cost of flood insurance before October 2021. You can find data on flooding risk for your state on the FEMA website.

According to FEMA data, Pickett County has had the fewest flooding events (12) in Tennessee since 1996, while Shelby County has had the most at 147. Flood insurance in these counties costs an average of $4,441 per year and $704 per year, respectively.

Despite having the fewest flooding events, Pickett County has flood insurance rates that are more than 600% more expensive than Shelby County, the most frequently flooded county in Tennessee. Pickett County may be so expensive because size is also a factor. A small county with fewer but more concentrated flooding events may be more costly compared to a county with more flooding events spread out over a large area.

Still, this is a highly unusual scenario, and Tennessee is a major outlier when it comes to the cost of flood insurance by county.

In October 2021, FEMA introduced Risk Rating 2.0, a system that bases flood insurance rates on the combination of flood risk and individual property factors like:

• Foundation type
• Dwelling structure
• Elevation
• Replacement and repair costs
• Frequency of flooding
• Proximity to bodies of water

Keep in mind that your location will still play a role in the cost of your flood insurance.

MoneyGeek highlighted factors affecting the average flood insurance cost in Tennessee.

Flood insurance gives you added protection and peace of mind since every property can be vulnerable to flooding. In high-risk flood zones, government-backed mortgage lenders will require you to purchase flood insurance.

Even in low- or moderate-risk flood zones, FEMA still recommends flood insurance. Keep in mind that homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover floods, so it is important to purchase a flood insurance policy.

Flood insurance will pay claims even without a presidential disaster declaration. You may even get more from flood insurance than federal disaster assistance, which may be limited to $5,000 per household.

You can look up the answers to some frequently asked questions below to learn more about flood insurance in Tennessee.