Most homeowners don't realize flood damage is explicitly excluded from standard policies — until water is already on the floor. Here's how the NFIP, private flood insurance, and claims actually work, explained clearly before you need it.

The Senate Conservation Committee advanced Senate Bill 154, which would require or offer flood coverage for flood losses that are directly attributable to a prior wildfire burn scar; supporters cited Ruidoso’s losses while insurers warned of higher premiums and market contraction.

At a village board meeting, broker Mark Connelly described options after the incumbent carrier issued a nonrenewal, saying competing quotes reduce the village's projected annual cost by roughly 26.3% (about $170,877) while noting remaining issues including flood coverage and umbrella limits.