As extreme weather events become increasingly common, home insurance rates are projected to rise through the remainder of 2024. It’s important to understand what types of weather are included under the umbrella of basic home insurance, and what types of severe storms require additional or separate insurance.
Typical homeowner policies have a flat deductible for losses like theft or fire damage, but coverage for severe weather events can be a different story. Keep reading to learn more about the parameters of homeowners insurance when it comes to various storms, and find out how you can protect your property when a basic policy doesn’t apply.
What Type of Storm Damage is Covered by Insurance?
Wind Damage
Rough winds can wreak havoc on a house. An intense windstorm can lift or break shingles off your roof or pull at the fascia, soffit, and gutters around the roof. To put it simply, winds can be very, very expensive for homeowners to deal with.
Typically, wind damage coverage is included in basic homeowners insurance. A wind insurance policy typically covers physical damages to the property and usually for detached structures as well. For those living in tornado and hurricane hot spots, wind damage might be a policy add-on or standalone policy.
Hail Damage
Like wind damage coverage, hail damage is often included in a basic insurance policy unless you live in a severe weather hot spot. Most policies cover damage to your home’s roof or siding, and typically even cover interior damage due to broken walls or roofs in the same storm. In addition to the main house, policies generally cover hail damage to external structures such as a shed or garage.
Lightning Damage
If lightning strikes, basic insurance covers the fires, electrical surges (damages to the wiring and appliances within the house), and structural damage that impacts your home. When it comes to supporting your claim, you’ll want to look around your property for the burn and char marks, holes, or structural damage that indicate lightning strikes.
Water Damage
Let’s talk about the difference between flood insurance and protection from water damage. Flood insurance protects your home strictly in instances of flooding or overflow of inland or tidal waters.
Water damage, however, is less about weather events and more about plumbing malfunctions or burst water pipes in the home. When the toilet, dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, or HVAC system doesn't drain properly, the result is flooding and water damage within the house. Basic homeowners’ policy will typically cover water damage but not flooding, so it's important to understand the difference between the two.
Storm Damage Insurance Policy Exclusions to Note
Flood Damage
Standard home insurance policies don’t cover damage incurred from flooding, so it’s important to look into what standalone or add-on policies can protect your property from floods and water damage that comes with them. Flooding has occurred in all 50 states, and more than 20% of flood-related claims come from moderate to low-risk regions, so if you don’t already have it, you may want to seriously consider looking into purchasing protection.
Earth Movement
Earthquakes, landslides, and mudflows are other common homeowners insurance exclusions that fall under the category of “earth movements.” Depending on where you live, you probably have a good idea of whether you’re in an earthquake zone or not. If you’re unsure whether or not you should purchase earth movement insurance, proximity to fault lines, the region's seismic history, and building construction are just a few of the factors that can help inform your decision process.
Maintenance Issues
If water damage occurs during a storm but is really caused by failure to conduct regular cleanings and checkups on your roof, your claim will likely be denied. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your home in tip-top shape to decrease the odds of damage and decay, and make sure to keep your insurance policy active in case something catastrophic happens.
Work with a Legal Professional You Can Trust
The bottom line is that the best time to prepare for weather damage is now, before it's too late. Check and then double-check your policy to understand what is and isn’t covered. Be sure to look into the necessary add-ons or standalone policies to ensure your home and family will be protected in every possible scenario.
If disaster strikes, the sad reality is that sometimes insurance companies will seek out ways to not be there to support their policyholders. If you find yourself battling your insurance for the money you’re owed, know that The Lane Law Firm is ready and available to provide legal support. With years of experience, we’re all too familiar with insurance company’s tactics for denying their policyholders’ claims. We will work to ensure you’re treated fairly and get the compensation you’re entitled to.
