The flooding that has swamped parts of the state over the past six weeks has resulted in 55 claims to a federal insurance program totaling more than $680,000.

The claims paid out by the National Flood Insurance Program in Hawai'i cover some but not all of the damage. Many people are learning they needed special coverage for flooding and that their homeowners policies excluded claims for this damage.

"I'll have to pay for rebuilding out of my own pocket," said Ka'a'awa resident Mitchell Balutski. A 50-yard-long wall, concrete recreation area, sidewalks, tiles and furniture in his yard were swept away by flooding.

Balutski said he called his insurance agent after water washed away about $25,000 of improvements he had made but was told homeowners insurance doesn't cover it.

Insurance companies are reminding policyholders that flood insurance is a separate purchase. About 51,000 Hawai'i homeowners and businesses have flood insurance through the national program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Many of these only have the policies because their mortgage lenders require it, insurers said. The most expensive coverage will pay up to $250,000 for damage to buildings and $100,000 for lost contents. Premiums range from $703 to $1,822 annually depending on the flood zone.

"Throughout the United States, there are a lot more people that need to buy flood insurance," said John Schapperle, president of Honolulu-based Island Insurance Co. "It's not purchased as much as it should be."

The flood insurance may cover some damage from mud but not landslides, which require specialized insurance. In the past year a Salt Lake City, Utah-based company, Poulton Associates, began offering landslide coverage as part of a package that also covers earthquakes and floods.

Poulton's offering isn't part of the FEMA-backed National Flood Insurance Program and covers damage up to $5 million. Poulton accounting administrator Josh Feinauer said the company has about 20 Hawai'i policies, though none had filed claims from the recent flooding.

First Insurance said it had received 18 flood claims in Hawai'i under the national program since the beginning of March. Another 32 claims were received from homeowners insurance policyholders claiming damage from the rain, said Steve Tabussi, vice president.

Insurers also reported more than two dozen people were seeking to recover flood damage to their cars. Generally this is covered through an automobile policy's comprehensive coverage.

People who have claims denied or don't have flood insurance will have to fund repairs out of their own pocket or try to qualify for low-interest loans or grants if President Bush declares Hawai'i a disaster area.

There is no guarantee that Bush will do so, though FEMA has been asked to work on an assessment that could make its way to the White House for review.

Carol Tyau-Beam, the state's national flood insurance coordinator, said most of the families she spoke with on some of the hardest-hit areas on Kaua'i didn't have flood insurance.

She said they didn't believe they needed it because they were told by insurance agents they didn't live in a zone prone to flooding.

"Every place has the potential to flood, it's just a lesser risk," she said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been notified of 55 claims filed under its National Flood Insurance Program for more than $680,000 in damage sustained since late February.

Reach Greg Wiles at gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com.