Q11. Are the contents I have stored under my stilt home covered in a flood?

Contents stored in an enclosure under your home are NOT covered (exceptions: washer/dryer, hot water heater, A/C unit). If the enclosed area is finished (like an apartment) AND the floor elevation of that are was used to rate the policy, the contents ARE covered. Contents not in an enclosure must be secured against being swept away. Call if you have questions.

More Information:

Enclosures located under a stilt home have basically the same rules where contents are concerned as basements do. If the elevation used to rate the policy was that of the bottom of the enclosure and that area is finished then the area is covered just like the rest of the home. However, if the enclosure has flow through vents and the elevation used to rate the policy is that of the living area above, the contents stored in the enclosure beneath are not covered.

So why would anyone want to have flow through vents in an enclosure and therefore not have the contents in that enclosure covered? It is because the premium for flood insurance is greatly dependent upon the elevation of the area insured. In a typical case here on Pine Island, an enclosure may be at or even below base flood elevation whereas the living area of the stilt home may be several feet above base flood elevation. This can mean a difference of hundreds of dollars in premium each and every year.

Another thing to keep in mind is this; contents stored under a stilt home, but not in a fully enclosed area, must be secured in such a way that they cannot float away.