Flooding often leaves more behind than water damage. When neighborhoods are evacuated or homes sit unsecured, looting can sometimes follow, which raises a separate and confusing question for Idaho homeowners: how flood insurance through Idaho Select Insurance, serving Meridian, ID, treats losses that happen after the floodwaters recede.

How Insurance Separates Flood and Looting

Flood damage and looting are usually evaluated as two different events. Flooding refers to water entering a home from outside sources, such as river overflow, rapid snowmelt, or surface runoff. Looting, by contrast, involves someone intentionally taking property. Even when looting happens because a flood made an area accessible or unattended, insurers generally view it as theft rather than flood damage.

Why The Distinction Matters

In Idaho, this separation can make a difference in how a loss is reviewed. Flood damage itself is commonly excluded under standard homeowners policies. Theft, however, is often addressed under different policy language. When looting occurs after a flood, insurers typically focus on whether the loss can clearly be identified as theft rather than water-related destruction.

Proving What Was Taken

One of the hardest parts of post-flood looting claims is showing what actually happened. Items may be missing, displaced, or ruined, making it difficult to tell whether they were stolen or destroyed by water. Police reports, photos taken before and after the event, and a detailed list of missing items can help establish that a loss resulted from looting.

Idaho Conditions To Keep In Mind

Idaho sees seasonal flooding tied to snowpack runoff and rising rivers, especially in spring. Evacuations during these events can leave homes vulnerable. While Idaho law doesn’t create special rules for looting after disasters, insurers still look for reasonable efforts to secure property when circumstances allow.

Your insurance agent at Idaho Select Insurance, serving Meridian, ID, can help explain how these situations are typically handled and what information supports a clearer claim review during recovery.