Could Storm Damage Affect Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy?

Between the high winds, heavy rain, and tornado potential, storms are battering much of the United States recently. As Mother Nature’s shows off her power, many are left to wonder if the storms can affect their homeowner’s insurance policy. The short answer is yes — storm damage can affect your homeowner’s insurance.  However, exactly how it affects it depends on the specifics of your policy and the type of storm that caused the damage.

Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies cover storm damage caused by wind, hail, and rain. For example:

• Wind damage: If a storm, like a hurricane or tornado, causes damage to your roof or other parts of your house, your homeowner’s insurance may cover it.
• Hail damage: Hailstorms that damage your roof, siding, or windows are typically covered.
• Rain or water damage: If rain leaks through your roof or windows and causes damage, it may be covered. However, damage caused by flooding (for example, from a heavy storm that causes rivers to overflow) is usually not covered by standard homeowner’s insurance. You typically would need a separate flood insurance policy for that.

There are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Deductible: You’ll likely need to pay a deductible before your insurance kicks in, which could vary based on the type of damage (wind damage may have a higher deductible in some areas).
2. Policy Limits: Your coverage may have limits on how much you can claim for storm damage, so if repairs or replacements exceed that amount, you’ll need to cover the difference.
3. Exclusions: Some policies may have specific exclusions related to certain types of storms or damage, so it’s important to read your policy carefully and speak with your insurer if you’re unsure about what’s covered.

If you’re in an area prone to severe storms (e.g., hurricanes or tornadoes), it might also be worth looking into additional coverage options like windstorm or flood insurance. Always check with your insurance provider to ensure you’re adequately covered.

Another key thing to remember if you do experience any storm damage – document everything! Take plenty of pictures of your house – inside and outside, if necessary — to demonstrate what the storm damage did to your home. Preserving the images of the damage is key. If there’s widespread damage to your region after a storm, it could take awhile for the insurance agent to visit your home and survey the damage personally. By that time, the damage to your home could appear different than immediately after the storm.  Having those pictures handy to show your agent will be key.

If you think you may have roof damage from a recent storm, the experts at Roof Scientist are here to help. We can diagnose the issues you’re facing and put together an actionable plan to get your roof back to its best. Reach out to Roof Scientist today!