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Hello Justin,

Regarding your unfinished drywall question. Unfinished drywall replacement is only covered in a basement. It is not covered in an enclosure beneath the lowest elevated floor of a post-FIRM elevated building. It's a bit confusing the way they lump this together in the policy but the items of property listed as covered under Coverage A - Building Property, Paragraph 8.a. are for basements and elevated building enclosures. The list of covered items is almost indentical in both areas with the exception of the unfinished drywall and insulation in a basement.

Wall framing beneath the lowest elevated floor of a post-FIRM elevated building located in a SFHA is typically excluded from coverage unless it is a part of the foundation or anchorage systems required to support a building. This exclusion may also apply to the buildings you have with the enclosed entry areas but it may be worth asking for additional interpretation on these areas especially it there is not another door located at the top of the entry area that closes off the main elevated living areas. Check out the NFIP bulliten website at http://bsa.nfipstat.com/wyobull/wyobull.htm for information on the flood response office location in TX or LA where you can get some guidance from an NFIP GA. There is also a recent flood insurance claims guidance memo dated 9/25/08 on this website that contains some discussion regarding post-FIRM elevated buildings.

Hope this was a help.
Mark Moore

Justin,

Mark is correct in his explanation of covered items in an enclosure of a post-FIRM elevated dwelling. However, even if the enclosed entry has no door located at the top of the entry area, there would still be no coverage for that area's wall framing or any other items not specifically listed. The stairs, if damaged, would be covered but, no finishes on the stairs.  Also look out for the flood zones. There are a couple zones where coverage would not be limited.