Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Storm Damage?

Table of Content

• Never covered
• What’s a hurricane moratorium?
• Is a blown over fence covered by homeowner insurance?
• What Types of Storm Damage Are Not Covered?
• Will Insurance Cover Storm Damage to my Roof?
• What type of winter storm damage is NOT covered by homeowners insurance?

For example, a roof leak or smoke from a wildfire could damage your furniture, electronics, and clothing. It may seem pointless to replace your roof when it is as old as the rest of your house. However, roofs face more extreme weather conditions and wear out faster, and the older your roof gets, it becomes weaker and less resistant to the winds and storm conditions it faces. Most home insurers should cover for damages due to natural disasters that are out of our control, like lightning.

In this blog post, we will discuss what storm damage is covered by homeowners insurance, and how to file a claim if you experience damages. If you suffer a covered peril and your personal belongings are damaged as a result, this may be covered under the personal property coverage portion of your home insurance policy. As is the case with dwelling coverage, the amount of reimbursement is typically capped by coverage limits. Home insurance policies may explicitly say that damage caused by a sewage or drain backup is not covered under the standard policy.

Never covered

And this can look like discoloration or even spots on your shingles due to the top layer being gone. This may require a closer look to know for sure, but for safety purposes, it’s a good idea to have a professional roofer do a thorough inspection up on the ladder. The time it takes for your claim to be resolved and for you to receive a claim check may vary depending on your location, the complexity of the claim, and your insurance company. Some states require companies to process and pay out in a timely manner, so be sure to check your state’s requirements. It’s important to note that storms can also cause damage to your personal belongings.

You can also extend your dwelling insurance to include a higher payout for hail damage. While not all home insurance companies offer this additional coverage, a hail-related “endorsement” will provide a higher level of protection than your policy stipulates. It’s worth noting that insurance won’t usually cover damage from a broken water main, sewage pipe or drain, or from a manmade opening in your home.

What’s a hurricane moratorium?

So, if you know bad weather is on its way, you might want to take steps to protect it or bring it indoors. While a professional will be the only person able to officially diagnose a deficient tree, you can notice some initial signs. Trees that are hunched over significantly, for example, are likely unhealthy and can fall down. Most trees have a natural lean, but take note of trees that appear to lean much more than neighboring trees. While the $500 cap is typical, your policy might cover up to $1,000 — or possibly lower than $500.

In addition to the potential for a wildfire to spread to your home, you may also suffer from smoke damage if a wildfire is nearby. This is important as we do not want you to file a claim that is not needed as it will go against you when it's time for renewal, even if the claim is denied. So even if your roof seems to be in good condition after its expected lifespan, we recommend you start planning to have it replaced to avoid bigger problems. You can visually inspect your roof for any signs of damage and promptly call up your contractor to address anything that you may see out of place.

Is a blown over fence covered by homeowner insurance?

If you are filing an insurance claim, chances are something has not gone well. As Hurricane Ian rampages through Florida, homeowners may be concerned about the state of their properties and how they can afford any repairs in the coming months. Be covered, nor would rain that gets in through a pre-existing hole in your home. These definitions usually have a specific wind speed eg it’s considered a storm if the wind is more than 54 mph. One of the main reasons for this was because insurers disputed that there was a ‘storm’ to begin with. But its important to note that some policies might exclude anything outdoors like garden furniture.

But water rushes into your laundry room — destroying your flooring, washer, and dryer. Your home insurance policy should cover the damage to not only your garage, but your laundry room’s flooring and appliances. If your home is unoccupied for an extended period of time and your pipes freeze up because you forgot to turn off the water supply, your home insurance company will likely deny the claim. Hurricane insurance also doesn't cover vehicles, so you would need to ensure your automobile insurance covers against this type of damage. Unfortunately, storm surges and flash flooding—which often accompany hurricanes and major storms—aren't necessarily covered in your insurance.

This article has been reviewed by a licensed Policygenius expert to ensure that sources, statistics, and claims meet our standard for accurate and unbiased advice. Tornadoes can occur anytime the conditions are right for thunderstorms. When warm, humid air rises and cool air falls inside thunderclouds, bringing rain , it can cause the air to twist and whirl, resulting in a tornado. Blizzard winds and the weight of snow can break already weak tree branches that could damage your home. Living in a high-risk flood area can come with high insurance costs - that's why the Flood Re Scheme was created.

Another homeowners insurance add-on, service line coverage reimburses you for repairs to damaged utility lines that run underneath your property. It also covers excavation and landscape restoration after necessary repairs are complete. Your home insurance won’t pay for gradual water damage that’s caused by your own neglect.

Storm damage that won’t be covered by home insurance.

Homeowners insurance will typically cover damage caused by fire, smoke, and explosion to your home, belongings, and other insured structures. Insured structures that are struck by lightning are usually covered, and in most cases appliances, devices and other electronics damaged from power surge are protected as well. Most homeowners policies also cover wildfire – although, not necessarily if you live in an area that sees frequent burns. When evaluating your insurance coverage, it’s important to understand exactly what your standard home policy does and does not cover. You may find it necessary to purchase separate coverage such as flood, hurricane, or earthquake policies if you determine that you have a need.

While roof repairs and roof maintenance might not be the first things you normally think about, a storm-damaged roof is something that you must address immediately. You need to have enough insurance to rebuild your house if it were destroyed completely. That means you need to insure your home for its replacement cost, not its market value.