Can you claim on house insurance for storm damage? Yes, you typically can, but understanding your policy and the claims process is crucial. Here’s the quick answer:
- Policy Coverage: Most homeowners insurance policies cover wind, hail, lightning, and some water damage.
- Claims Process: Document the damage, make immediate repairs to prevent more harm, and contact your insurer promptly.
- Exclusions: Flood and earthquake damage usually aren’t covered unless you have special policies.
Navigating storm damage can be stressful, but knowing whether your house insurance covers it is the first step. Storms can strike unexpectedly, causing significant damage to your property. From strong winds tearing off roofs to hail smashing windows, these events can leave you in disrepair. Dwelling coverage typically helps with repairs to the structure, while personal property coverage aids in replacing damaged items.
Understanding the intricacies of your policy is crucial to ensuring you can claim the best possible compensation.
I’m Scott Friedson, a Multi-State Licensed Public Adjuster. With over $250 million in settled claims, my expertise lies in helping property owners steer complex insurance claims, ensuring you get the settlement you rightfully deserve.
Understanding Storm Damage Coverage
Storms can wreak havoc on your home in many ways. Below, we’ll break down the types of damage that are typically covered by homeowners insurance.
Wind and Hail Damage
Wind damage is one of the most common types of storm damage. It can affect your roof, siding, windows, and more. Damaging winds can come from various storms, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and thunderstorms.
Roof Damage: Wind can rip off shingles or even tear off entire sections of your roof. Insurance typically covers these repairs under dwelling coverage.
Siding Damage: Strong winds can also damage the siding of your home. Vinyl and metal siding are usually covered, and insurers will aim to replace it in a way that maintains a uniform look.
Hail Damage: Hail can cause significant damage to your roof and siding. In areas prone to hailstorms, it’s common for policies to cover this type of damage. The Insurance Information Institute reports that hail and wind damage are the most frequent claims filed by homeowners.
Water and Ice Damage
Water and ice can cause severe damage, especially in colder climates. Here are some common scenarios:
Frozen Pipes: When pipes freeze, they can burst, causing extensive water damage. This is usually covered under your policy.
Ice Dams: Ice dams form when melting snow refreezes at the edge of your roof, preventing proper drainage. This can lead to water intrusion into your home.
Water Intrusion: Wind-driven rain can force water into your home through gaps in your roof or siding. This type of damage is generally covered, but it’s crucial to understand the specifics of your policy.
Lightning Strikes and Power Surges
Lightning can cause both direct and indirect damage to your home:
Fire Damage: A direct lightning strike can set your home on fire. Fire damage is typically covered by homeowners insurance.
Smoke Damage: Even if a fire is contained quickly, smoke can cause extensive damage to your home and belongings.
Damaged Electronics: Lightning can also cause power surges that damage electronics and appliances. According to the Insurance Information Institute, replacing these essentials can be costly, which is why having comprehensive coverage is crucial.
Fallen Trees
Storms can also bring down trees, which can cause significant damage when they fall on your home or other structures on your property. Typically, your policy covers the removal of the tree and repairs to the damaged structure.
Understanding the various types of storm damage and how they’re covered under your homeowners insurance can help you steer the claims process more effectively.
Can You Claim on House Insurance for Storm Damage?
When storms hit, the damage can be extensive and costly. Understanding what’s typically covered and what’s not covered by your homeowners insurance can make a big difference when you need to file a claim.
What’s Typically Covered
Wind Damage: Wind damage is one of the most common claims. Your policy usually covers repairs for roof, siding, and window damage caused by high winds. Between 2014 and 2018, homeowners filed more claims due to wind and hail damage than any other type of loss, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Hail Damage: Hail can wreak havoc on your roof and siding. Most policies cover this type of damage, including repairs and replacements. In areas prone to severe storms, you might need a separate windstorm and hail policy.
Lightning Strikes: If lightning strikes your home, it can cause fire and smoke damage. Your policy typically covers these repairs, as well as damage to electronics from power surges.
Water Damage: Water damage from storms, such as rain entering through a damaged roof or broken windows, is usually covered. However, water damage from flooding is generally not covered (more on that below).
What’s Typically Not Covered
Flood Damage: Standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage. If you live in a flood-prone area, you’ll need separate flood insurance.
Earthquake Damage: Damage from earthquakes is also not covered under standard policies. You can purchase separate earthquake insurance if you live in an area where this is a risk.
Wear and Tear: Insurance is designed to cover sudden and accidental damage, not wear and tear. If your roof is old and leaks during a storm, the insurer may deny the claim, citing poor maintenance.
Claim Process, Policy Coverage, and Deductible Levels
Claim Process: Filing a claim involves several steps—documenting the damage with photos and videos, making temporary repairs to prevent further damage, and contacting your insurer with all necessary documentation.
Policy Coverage: Coverage can vary widely between policies, so it’s crucial to read and understand your specific policy details. Some policies may have exclusions or limitations on certain types of storm damage.
Deductible Levels: Your deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in. Some policies have higher deductibles for storm-related claims, especially in hurricane-prone areas.
Understanding what your policy covers and the steps to file a claim can help you get the compensation you deserve after a storm.
Steps to File a Storm Damage Claim
Documenting the Damage
When a storm hits, the first step in the claims process is to document the damage thoroughly. This is crucial for a successful claim.
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Photograph the Damage: Take clear photos of all affected areas. Capture both wide shots for context and close-ups for detail. Focus on exterior damage like roof and siding issues, as well as interior damage such as water stains and broken furniture.
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Record Videos: Videos can provide a more comprehensive view. Walk through your home, narrating the extent of the damage. This helps adjusters understand the situation better.
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Written Inventory: Create a detailed list of damaged items. Include descriptions, purchase dates, and estimated values. Attach any receipts or proof of purchase. If you don’t have receipts, note where and when you bought the items.
Example: After a tornado, Jane took photos of her broken windows and water-damaged living room. She listed all damaged items and included receipts for her TV and sofa. This detailed documentation made her claim process smoother and faster.
Making Emergency Repairs
Don’t wait for an adjuster before making emergency repairs. If a delay will result in more damage, take immediate action.
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Secure Property: Cover broken windows with plywood or plastic, and use tarps to protect exposed areas. This prevents further damage and shows your insurer you’re taking steps to mitigate losses.
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Save Receipts: Keep all receipts for materials and labor used in emergency repairs. Many insurers will reimburse these expenses.
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Prevent Further Damage: If water is leaking, shut off the main water valve. For electrical damage, turn off the power to prevent fires.
Tip: Even if the insurer sends you a check right away for emergency work, you might have to pay the bill yourself first. Always keep receipts that you can later file with your claim.
Contacting Your Insurer
After securing your property, contact your insurer as soon as possible. Timeliness is key to a smooth claims process.
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Notify Insurer: Call your insurance company immediately. Provide a summary of the damage and your policy details.
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Provide Documentation: Submit all photos, videos, and your written inventory. The more detailed your documentation, the better.
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Follow Policy Requirements: Every policy has specific requirements for filing a claim. Follow these to avoid delays. Ask your insurer about the next steps and any additional information they need.
Stat: According to the Ohio Department of Insurance, having an up-to-date home inventory can streamline your claim-filing experience and ensure you receive accurate value from a potential loss.
By following these steps, you can efficiently steer the storm damage claims process and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions about Storm Damage Claims
What Does Insurance Cover in a Storm?
Homeowners insurance typically covers a range of damages caused by storms. Here are some common types of damage that are usually covered:
- Wind Damage: This includes damage to your roof, siding, and windows. Wind-driven rain that enters your home through a damaged roof or window is also generally covered.
- Hail Damage: Hail can cause significant harm to your roof, siding, and even windows. Most policies cover these repairs or replacements.
- Water Damage: If water enters your home due to a storm, like from a broken window or damaged roof, it’s usually covered. However, this does not include flooding (more on that later).
- Lightning Strikes: Damage from lightning, including fire and power surges that harm electronics, is typically covered.
Example: After a severe thunderstorm, Jane noticed her roof had several missing shingles and her living room was soaked from rainwater. Her homeowners insurance covered the roof repairs and the water damage inside.
What Damage is Not Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
While homeowners insurance covers many types of storm damage, there are some exclusions you should be aware of:
- Flood Damage: Standard policies do not cover damage from flooding. You’ll need separate flood insurance for this.
- Earthquake Damage: Earthquakes are not covered under standard homeowners insurance. Separate earthquake insurance is required.
- Wear and Tear: Damage due to lack of maintenance or normal wear and tear is not covered. Your policy will outline what constitutes proper maintenance.
Quote: “Surprisingly, water damage from floods is not covered. You’ll need separate flood insurance,” notes the Insurance Information Institute.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Natural Disasters?
Homeowners insurance covers several natural disasters, but not all. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Wind: Damage from windstorms, including tornadoes and hurricanes, is usually covered.
- Hail: As mentioned, hail damage is typically covered.
- Lightning: Damage from lightning strikes, including fires and power surges, is covered.
- Wildfires: Standard policies generally cover damage from wildfires.
Fact: According to the Insurance Information Institute, wind and hail damage were the leading causes of homeowners insurance claims between 2014 and 2018.
However, it’s important to check your policy for specific exclusions and separate deductibles for certain types of damage, like hurricanes. Always review your policy details to understand what is and isn’t covered.
By understanding what your homeowners insurance covers, you can better prepare for storm damage and ensure you’re not caught off guard by unexpected exclusions.
Conclusion
At Insurance Claim Recovery Support, we understand the stress and challenges that come with filing a storm damage insurance claim. Our mission is to stand by policyholders, ensuring you receive the maximum settlement you deserve.
Our experienced team is dedicated to policyholder advocacy. From the initial contact with your insurer to the final claim approval, we guide you through every step. We believe in fair indemnification, helping you restore and rebuild without undue financial strain.
Maximum Settlement
Securing the maximum settlement is our top priority. We carefully document damage, negotiate with insurers, and ensure that every detail is accounted for. Whether it’s a minor repair or a significant rebuild, we strive to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Texas Locations
We proudly serve policyholders across Texas, a state known for its severe weather. From Houston to Dallas, our team is ready to assist you with your wind damage insurance claims. Visit our Texas service page to learn more about how we can help you.
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a storm and need expert assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact us today for a free consultation or fill out our contact form on our website.
By partnering with Insurance Claim Recovery Support, you can steer the complexities of storm damage claims confidently and ensure you claim what’s rightfully yours.
