Flood insurance • Queens, New York • 2026
Flood Insurance in Queens, NY: Coastal Flooding, Basement Apartments, and Quotes
Queens faces both ocean flooding and some of New York’s deadliest basement flooding. Sandy’s surge swamped the Rockaways and Broad Channel in 2012, and when Ida’s remnants hit on September 1, 2021, 11 of the 12 people who died in the region were from Queens, most in basement apartments in Hollis, Woodside, Elmhurst, and Flushing.
Standard homeowners, condo, and renters policies exclude flood, so a separate flood policy is the only way to cover damage from rising water.
Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency based in Tucson that serves Queens homeowners and renters by phone and online. We do not have an office in Queens, and we compare National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private flood options from the insurers we are appointed with for your exact address.
Get Queens flood insurance quotes
Tell us your Queens address, whether you own or rent, your flood zone if you know it, and the coverage you want, and a licensed agent will follow up with NFIP and private flood options available to us. Submitting the form does not bind coverage.
If the form does not load, call 888-387-3687, Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 5:00 Arizona time, or email info@blakeinsurancegroup.com.
Prefer to quote online yourself?
Get a flood quote online from Neptune Flood, or start a home, auto, or renters quote with BOLT, without waiting for a call back.
Get a flood quote from Neptune →Private flood insurance quotes online from Neptune Flood.
Start a home or auto quote with BOLT →Home, auto, and renters quotes through our secure BOLT online portal.
Sponsored. Each link opens the partner’s website in a new tab, where its terms and privacy policy apply. Blake Insurance Group may be compensated if you buy.
Flood risk in Queens: what drives it
Queens stretches from the Atlantic beaches of the Rockaways to inland neighborhoods with aging sewers. Three things drive most flood claims.
Storm surge on the Rockaways and Jamaica Bay
During Sandy, seawater reached a home’s wiring in Breezy Point and the resulting fire destroyed 126 homes, and the Rockaway peninsula was under mandatory evacuation.
Tidal flooding that is getting more frequent
Broad Channel already sees minor tidal flooding once or twice a month, and the Union of Concerned Scientists projects Jamaica Bay flood events will roughly triple by 2030.
Extreme rain in inland basements
Ida flooded basements far from the coast, and on September 29, 2023, JFK Airport recorded 8.5 inches of rain, its wettest day on record.
Queens flood zones and maps
Most of Broad Channel and the Rockaway peninsula, including Breezy Point, Rockaway Park, Arverne, and Far Rockaway, are in high-risk flood zones, along with parts of Howard Beach. Inland neighborhoods such as Hollis, Jamaica, and Flushing are mostly outside mapped zones but still flood in extreme rain.
FEMA flood maps label higher-risk areas as Special Flood Hazard Areas, such as Zones A and AE, and lower-risk areas as Zones X, B, or C. If your building is in a high-risk zone and you have a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require flood insurance. Outside those zones, coverage is optional, but flood damage is still excluded from standard homeowners and renters policies.
You can look up an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Maps show estimated risk, not a guarantee, and do not capture every street or wash that floods during a heavy storm.
Coverage priorities for Queens homeowners and renters
| Your situation | Coverage to review | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner on the Rockaway peninsula or Broad Channel | Building and contents flood | Most of the area is in high-risk zones and floods with surge and tides |
| Renter in a basement apartment | Contents-only flood and renters water backup | Ida showed how quickly basements fill |
| Homeowner in Howard Beach | Building and contents flood | Howard Beach flooded heavily in Sandy |
| Inland homeowner in Hollis, Jamaica, or Flushing | Lower-cost flood coverage outside high-risk zones | Extreme rain floods homes outside mapped zones |
Examples only, not recommendations. Coverage availability and terms vary by insurer.
New York flood facts every Queens property owner should know
- Flood is excluded from homeowners and renters policies. Rising water from the ocean, a bay, a canal, or an overloaded sewer, or heavy rain that pools around a building, is flood damage. It needs a separate flood policy.
- Sewer backup is a separate gap. Water backing up through floor drains or toilets is usually covered only by a water backup endorsement on your homeowners policy. A flood policy covers backup only when it is caused directly by a flood.
- Basements have limited flood coverage. NFIP policies cover only certain items below ground level, such as furnaces, water heaters, and washers and dryers, not finished walls, flooring, or most belongings. Some private policies offer more.
- New York sellers must answer flood questions. Since March 20, 2024, the Property Condition Disclosure Statement asks whether a home is in a FEMA floodplain or flood hazard area, whether it has flood insurance or an elevation certificate, and whether the seller received federal flood aid or filed a flood claim. Sellers can no longer give a $500 credit instead of the form.
- Leases must disclose flood risk. Since June 21, 2023, New York residential leases must say whether the property is in a FEMA floodplain or flood hazard area and whether it has had flood damage, and remind renters that renters insurance usually excludes flood.
- Lenders require flood insurance in high-risk zones. If your building is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and your mortgage is federally backed, flood insurance is required. Elsewhere it is optional.
- State floodplain help. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is the state’s NFIP coordinating agency, and 1,466 New York communities take part in the NFIP.
NFIP vs. private flood insurance: what to compare
Most flood policies come from the National Flood Insurance Program, run by FEMA, or from a private flood insurer. Line up each quote on the same terms before comparing price.
| Coverage | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Building coverage | Same limit. The NFIP pays up to $250,000 for a home's structure. Private flood insurers may offer higher limits. |
| Contents coverage | Same limit. The NFIP pays up to $100,000 for belongings, and renters can buy contents-only coverage. |
| Deductibles | Same deductibles. Building and contents deductibles are often separate. |
| Loss settlement | Whether the building is paid at replacement cost or actual cash value, and how contents are paid |
| Living expenses | The NFIP does not pay for a hotel or other extra living costs. Some private policies do. |
| Basements | The NFIP limits what it covers below ground level. Check what each policy pays for in a basement. |
| Waiting period | NFIP policies usually take effect after 30 days, with some exceptions, such as a loan closing. Private waiting periods vary. |
Queens areas and ZIP codes we quote
We quote flood insurance across Queens, including Rockaway Park, Arverne, Far Rockaway, Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Hollis, Jamaica, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens, Rosedale, Woodside, Elmhurst, and Flushing.
- 11354
- 11373
- 11377
- 11412
- 11413
- 11414
- 11417
- 11420
- 11422
- 11423
- 11432
- 11434
- 11691
- 11692
- 11693
- 11694
- 11697
Flood insurance is priced by the exact address, including its flood risk, the building's elevation and foundation, its replacement cost, and the coverage and deductibles you choose. Have your address and, if you have one, your elevation certificate ready.
Ways to lower your Queens flood premium
- Compare NFIP and private quotes. Since FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP prices reflect each property's own risk, and a private quote can come in higher or lower for the same home.
- Choose a higher deductible if you can afford it after a loss.
- Get an elevation certificate. It can help, especially for buildings in high-risk zones.
- Reduce the damage a flood can do. Raising utilities, adding flood openings, or elevating the building can lower the price over time.
- Ask about community discounts. Communities in FEMA's Community Rating System can earn NFIP discounts for their residents.
Discounts and pricing factors vary by insurer and program.
Closing on a home? If your lender requires flood insurance, tell us your closing date. NFIP policies tied to a loan closing can start without the usual 30-day wait. Call 888-387-3687.
Queens flood insurance FAQs
Do I need flood insurance in Queens?
If your building is in a high-risk flood zone and you have a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require it. Elsewhere it is optional, but Ida flooded many homes outside mapped zones.
Which parts of Queens are high-risk flood zones?
Most of the Rockaway peninsula and Broad Channel, plus parts of Howard Beach and other areas around Jamaica Bay.
Are basement apartments covered by flood insurance?
NFIP coverage below ground level is limited to certain items. Renters should consider contents flood coverage and a water backup endorsement.
Does my landlord have to tell me about flood risk?
Yes. Since June 21, 2023, New York leases must disclose whether the property is in a flood zone and whether it has had flood damage.
How long does a flood policy take to start?
NFIP policies usually take effect after 30 days, with exceptions such as a policy tied to a loan closing. Private waiting periods vary.
Nearby areas and related guides
Important information
Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16944666. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, waiting periods, and eligibility vary by insurer, program, and property, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls. This page is general information, not legal advice. Flood zone information is general; check the official map for your address.
Service area. Blake Insurance Group is based in Tucson and serves Queens clients by phone and online. We do not claim a physical office in Queens.
Your next step
Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare NFIP and private flood options available to us for your Queens address.
