Commercial property forms exclude flood, so businesses in flood areas turn to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Its Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) defines flood as a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land, or of two or more properties (one of which is the insured's), from overflow of inland or tidal waters, unusual and rapid runoff of surface water from any source, or mudflow. No disaster declaration is required.

Mudflow has a narrow meaning: a river of liquid and flowing mud. Other earth movements, such as a landslide or slope failure, are not mudflows. That distinction matters on California hillsides, where both happen.

For a business, the General Property Form covers non-residential buildings, multifamily buildings designed for five or more families, and their contents. Its principal coverages are Coverage A (Building Property), Coverage B (Personal Property), Coverage C (Other Coverages) and Coverage D (Increased Cost of Compliance). Regular Program limits for a non-residential building are $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for contents (44 CFR §61.6).

Business income and extra expense are not available. The SFIP pays only for direct physical loss by or from flood and does not pay for loss of revenue or profits, loss of use, or loss from interruption of business. A business that wants those must look to another market.