Rain Storm? Does Homeowners Insurance Cover its Water Damage?
You purchase homeowner insurance to protect your home and belongings financially in the event of damage for various reasons. Water damage from a storm is one of those reasons. When bad weather causes property damage, your home insurance coverage for a storm-related loss may differ depending on the situation and coverage you’ve purchased.
Storm, lightning, and other natural disaster coverage is typically included in a basic homeowners policy. Things such as a gash in the roof caused by a storm or a fire caused by lightning are all covered. When you have experienced storm damage, you should call your insurance company right away. If there is a hole in the roof or the side of the building, do your best to cover it to prevent any further damage due to water getting in.
Storm Damage Coverage
Wind and hail damage to roofing or shingles, as well as wind-driven snow, hail, and rain that causes dents, missing shingles, and other issues, are typically covered by homeowner insurance. However, these things usually have a secondary issue. That issue is water. Once the hail has done the damage, the water will follow. Water will flow in the path of least resistance. This means that a hole in the middle of the house could see water damage off to one side. As the water enters, it starts traveling down the home’s studs and into the insulations and walls.
Water, Flood, and Ice-related Damage
Water from a rainstorm or an ice storm can cause significant damage to a home. Hail and ice damage are typically covered by homeowner insurance; however, water coverage varies depending on the cause. Home insurance does not cover floods caused by rain or a body of water overflowing. Flood insurance is a separate policy that needs to be purchased for this coverage. Most people don’t have flood coverage. What constitutes a flood? There is standing water from the rain due to overflowing rivers, lakes, or the ground being saturated and cannot hold any more water. Things such as holding in the roof that caused a flood inside will most likely be covered. Floods from burst pipes will also be covered as well.
Understand Your Homeowners’ Coverage
Sewer backups, which can happen after a heavy rainstorm, are also frequently excluded from home coverage. This is unless you specifically purchase it by adding an endorsement. Seepage, which occurs when water enters the ground due to saturated soil or poor drainage, is not covered by homeowner or flood insurance, so keep that in mind.
It’s also critical to understand your coverage when it comes to the contents of your home. A typical home insurance policy, for example, covers ice dam damage to the structure. However, your personal property is often covered with ice damage. This coverage only covers the structure itself. Anything such as tools, dishes, or other personal belongings damaged due to an ice structure will not be covered.
Learn more about storm damage coverage and what isn’t covered by your insurance before filing a claim. Call your insurer and ask questions. This will allow you to either purchase additional insurance and transfer the risk or understand what may not be covered to take preventative measures ahead of time. It is best to know and understand ahead of time.
