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Questions & answers · Flood insurance

My jewelry, art, and cash were damaged in the flood. How much does flood insurance pay for them?

Flood insuranceWho paysChecked Nov 5, 2026

From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-05 · Source: FEMA · Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Dwelling Form (44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1)) · Art. III.B (Coverage B) item 8 View original ↗

In short

  1. The standard flood policy sets a $2,500 limit for any one loss to certain kinds of belongings.
  2. The list includes artwork, collectibles, and jewelry.
  3. The policy also lists currency, money, and valuable papers among property it does not insure.

What this means

This answer is about the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) standard policy. Under personal property coverage, the policy says it will pay no more than $2,500 for any one loss to one or more of these kinds of property: artwork, photographs, collectibles, or memorabilia; rare books or autographed items; jewelry and watches and similar items; furs; and personal property used in any business. It says it pays only the functional value of antiques. In the list of property not insured, it names accounts, bills, coins, currency, deeds, money, and valuable papers. The sources do not say how your insurer would value a particular piece.

Your next step

Make a list of the damaged items with photos and receipts, and give it to your adjuster. The sources here give no separate deadline for these items.

Check it yourself

Open the policy text at the eCFR link and read Article III, paragraph B, item 8, and Article IV.

Where this comes from (2)

  1. [1] FEMA · Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Dwelling Form (44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1)) · Art. III.B (Coverage B) item 8 · checked 2026-11-05

    8 . Special Limits. We will pay no more than $2,500 for any one loss to one or more of the following kinds of personal property: a . Artwork, photographs, collectibles, or memorabilia … c . Jewelry, watches, precious and semi-precious stones, or articles of gold, silver, or platinum;

  2. [2] FEMA · Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Dwelling Form (44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1)) · Art. IV (Property Not Insured) item 7 · checked 2026-11-05

    7 . Accounts, bills, coins, currency, deeds, evidences of debt, medals, money, scrip, stored value cards, postage stamps, securities, bullion, manuscripts, or other valuable papers.

How we found this

We matched your question to 2 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-05.

What we don’t know yet

Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.

Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.

Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.

This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.

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