Which of the following perils is excluded from coverage in a National Flood Insurance Program policy?

A National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy specifically addresses coverage related to flooding, which is defined as the accumulation of water over normally dry land areas. It is crucial to recognize that certain perils are excluded from NFIP coverage to delineate the boundaries of flood insurance.

The correct answer highlights that water-main breakage is not covered under the NFIP policy. A water-main breakage may lead to localized flooding, but this event is considered an engineering or mechanical failure rather than a flood as defined by the NFIP. The program is designed to address flood risks associated with natural events, such as heavy rain or storm surges, rather than plumbing or infrastructure failures.

In contrast, hurricane damage, earthquake damage, and lightning damage are types of losses caused by perils that fall outside the specific flood risk definition. While hurricane damage can involve flooding, the NFIP specifically targets floods caused by heavy rainfall and storm surges rather than wind damage or structural issues. Moreover, earthquake damage and lightning damage are also not related to flooding and are typically covered under different insurance policies targeting those specific risks.