Home · Updated September 2026
Flood is excluded from every standard homeowners policy. That includes rising creeks and rivers, surface water running toward the house, and water backing up from overwhelmed drainage. Coverage comes from a separate flood policy, and there is normally a waiting period before it takes effect, so buying it as a storm approaches does not work.
The distinction that surprises people: a burst supply line inside the house is generally covered, while the same volume of water arriving from outside is not.
Earthquake, landslide, sinkhole and settling are excluded. Earthquake coverage is available by endorsement or separate policy, and it is worth a conversation in this region — the New Madrid seismic zone influences rates and availability across parts of Missouri and neighboring states.
Insurance covers sudden and accidental losses, not deterioration. A roof that has reached the end of its life, a slow leak under a sink that rots a floor over two years, foundation cracks from ordinary settling, mold that grew from an unrepaired problem — all excluded.
This is the most common reason a claim is denied, and it is usually the homeowner's least favorite conversation, because the damage is real and expensive. The defensible position is to fix small problems before they become slow ones.
Water backing up through a floor drain or a sewer line is typically excluded unless you add the endorsement. It is inexpensive, it is a frequent claim, and it is left off far too many policies. If you have a finished basement, it is close to essential.
Homeowners policies cap business property at a low limit and generally exclude business liability. If you run anything from the house — a trade, an online store with inventory in the garage, clients visiting for appointments — the exposure belongs on an endorsement or a commercial policy.
Even when a loss is covered, certain categories have internal caps, especially for theft: jewelry, watches, furs, firearms, silverware, cash, collectibles and sometimes electronics. The main contents limit does not apply to them. Scheduling an item lifts it out of the sub-limit, usually covers it for an agreed value, and often adds broader perils including simple loss.
Licensed vehicles are covered by auto policies, not home. Damage caused by your own pets is generally excluded, and some dog breeds affect liability eligibility entirely. Intentional acts are excluded. Neglect — failing to protect property after a loss — can reduce or void a claim, which is why tarping a damaged roof promptly matters.
Questions about your own situation? Call 417.623.8300 or send us your current policy. We are licensed in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Questions about your own policy? Send it over and we will go through it with you.