There is an official definition of a flood and different types of flooding
You'd think this was an easy answer, but the definition matters when it comes to your insurance.
Flooding is an event where water rises higher than normal levels and causes damage to land, structures, and infrastructure. As a general rule, anywhere it rains, it can flood.
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of 2 or more acres of normally dry land area or of 2 or more properties (at least 1 of which is the policyholder's property) from:
Overflow of inland or tidal waters; or
Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
Mudflow; or
Collapse or subsidence (i.e. sinking) of land along the shore of a lake or a similar body of water as a result of erosion or scouring caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above.
