As a homeowner, one of your most pressing concerns when choosing a home insurance policy is whether you’re covered in the event of a natural disaster. Depending on where you live in the states, any number of natural disasters can cause immense damage and even wipe away your home in an instant. Tornados, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, volcanos, lightning, hail, tsunamis, severe thunderstorms, mudslides, and floods all threaten homeowners throughout the country.

 

Help protect your home from devastating perils by reviewing your home insurance policy. Coverage can differ according to a home’s location and the presence of risks. While damage from some natural disasters may be covered, it may be necessary to purchase a supplemental policy for others. Areas especially prone to particular natural disasters should be aware that a standard policy may not have them covered.

 

Natural Disasters Covered Under Home Insurance

 

Many factors determine the extent of coverage for natural disasters in a standard home insurance policy. For example, areas at high-risk of earthquake damage may have limited insurance options available.

 

The deductible is a consideration not to be underestimated when choosing a home insurance policy. Should a storm cause $100,000 in damages, and your insurance policy requires a 10% deductible, you’ll have to pay $10,000 out-of-pocket before receiving reimbursement from the insurance company.

 

Following are some of the natural disasters typically covered by home insurance policies. Restrictions and exceptions often apply, so homeowners should always check their current plans for exact details.

 

Volcanos

• The standard home insurance policy covers damage caused by a volcanic eruption. Most policies will cover cleanup costs of loss resulting from lava flow, ash, dust, and particle matter.
• Exceptions – Following a volcanic eruption, landslides, shock waves, tremors, and wind-carried ash can cause aftermath damage. This type of loss is often not covered in standard home insurance policies.

Wildfires

• Your standard home insurance policy almost always covers damage from fire. However, homeowners need to ensure they have an adequate amount of coverage. Homeowners who fail to obtain enough coverage could find themselves unable to rebuild their homes after a devastating wildfire.
• Exceptions – To get coverage in areas at high risk of wildfires, insurance providers may require precautionary measures. For example, homeowners may have to show proof of the use of fire-retardant building materials and roof.

Wind Storms

• Strong winds have the potential to blow off a roof, knock trees onto the house, and damage Typically, such damages are covered by a standard home insurance policy. However, policyholders should check coverage limits and deductibles to make sure the resulting repair costs would be covered.
• Exceptions – cleanup of objects, such as trees, blow down on the property, but not damaging the property itself, are not covered by most policies.

 

Natural Disasters Not Covered Under Home Insurance

 

Most standard home policies will not cover natural disasters such as floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes. For homeowners living in areas prone to these natural disasters, additional coverage is highly recommended. Find out about additional insurance options to fully cover your home.

 

Hurricanes are another particularly threatening natural disaster, especially in the southeastern states. Flooding is a common result of hurricanes, which isn’t covered in most standard home insurance policies. Following are natural disasters not included under standard coverage.

 

Flooding

• In most cases, standard home insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by floods. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides homeowners in flood-prone areas with good coverage. Coverage rates are based on individual community efforts to reduce the risks of flood damage.

Hurricanes and Storms

• Although most home insurance policies cover windstorm damage, flooding resulting from a hurricane isn’t covered. Areas at high-risk from hurricanes should examine the fine print of their insurance policies. Wind damage and flood damage can have different definitions for different insurance carriers. Similarly, standard home insurance doesn’t cover damage from tsunamis and other flood-related storms.

Earthquakes

• An earthquake is an excellent example of a natural disaster often excluded from most home insurance policies. Living close to a fault line could make it difficult to obtain earthquake coverage. In some cases, homeowners will have to take extra precautions to ensure their home is stable in the event of an earthquake if they wish to obtain coverage.

 

For most homeowners, their house is their most prized possession. However, many homeowners don’t have enough coverage to help protect their assets in the event of a complete loss. Find out here in you have enough homeowners insurance.

 

To learn more about Insurance for Natural Disasters, contact our team at ProtectiveAgency.com or call 877-739-9367. Our licensed insurance agents will be happy to answer any questions you have.