Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage?The short answer is most of the time, Yes. Unlike flood damage caused by rising water, which is not covered under a standard homeowners policy, tornadoes and wind events causing damage are generally included as covered items on a standard policy. The general rule of thumb on a standard homeowners policy is that it is designed to cover events that are sudden and/or accidental in nature. Tornadoes certainly fit into the category of a sudden and unexpected event. And, unless there is a specific exclusion on the insurance policy for wind, then you should be in good shape. Do homeowners in high-risk areas pay a higher premium for insurance? Since insurance rates are based on risk, yes, living in an area that is more likely to encounter serious weather or natural disaster events would mean higher premiums. This is very easy to see in Florida near the beach for example, where rates are much higher than inland, and as a matter of fact, sometimes it is almost impossible to find a company that will write a policy on a property near the ocean. Moreover, if you compare the cost of an insurance policy in a very low-risk state such as Delaware versus a state such as Kansas, you will see that the cost in Kansas which is a state known for tornados, would be many times higher. It is not uncommon for people to seek out places to live that are less expensive for insurance, especially in Florida. Are there any hazards related to tornados that a standard homeowners insurance policy won't cover?Insurance companies are very careful the way they word their policies. In fact, if you ever read through your homeowner's policy, you will see that the language is written in a legal like format because the policies are often times based on legal disputes on coverage. Over the years, the language in insurance policies will change as coverages and denials are challenged in court. That being said, it is wise to make sure you are in compliance with the terms of your policy to make sure there won't be a denial when a tornado strikes. For example, many policies now have exclusions for trampolines. This is generally because trampolines are inherently dangerous and cause injuries, but also because a trampoline will get picked up and thrown by wind very easily. If there is no coverage for trampolines and you have one which was picked up and thrown through your house, then an insurance company can potentially deny your claim. In this case, yes the tornado damage is covered, but since you were not in compliance with the terms of your policy, you could very easily get a denial on your claim.In most cases, you should be covered for tornado damage, unless some of the damage was caused by a concurrent event or hazard that is specifically excluded from your policy such as a flood. Yes, sometimes floods and tornadoes could happen at the same time just like hurricanes and floods can occur together. In this case, I have seen insurance companies split up the coverage in the house, where they would say, yes, your roof was damaged and your windows were blown out, so we will pay for that, but any damage that is from the floor up two or three feet would be denied. You best have a flood policy in place to cover the first two or three feet up from the floor.https://allstaradjusting.com
Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage?
The short answer is most of the time, Yes. Unlike flood damage caused by rising water, which is not covered
under a standard homeowners policy, tornadoes and wind events causing damage are generally included as
covered items on a standard policy. The general rule of thumb on a standard homeowners policy is that it is
designed to cover events that are sudden and/or accidental in nature. Tornadoes certainly fit into the category of
a sudden and unexpected event. And, unless there is a specific exclusion on the insurance policy for wind, then
you should be in good shape.
Do homeowners in high-risk areas pay a higher premium for
insurance?
Since insurance rates are based on risk, yes, living in an area that is more likely to encounter serious weather or
natural disaster events would mean higher premiums. This is very easy to see in Florida near the beach for
example, where rates are much higher than inland, and as a matter of fact, sometimes it is almost impossible to
find a company that will write a policy on a property near the ocean. Moreover, if you compare the cost of an
insurance policy in a very low-risk state such as Delaware versus a state such as Kansas, you will see that the cost
in Kansas which is a state known for tornados, would be many times higher. It is not uncommon for people to
seek out places to live that are less expensive for insurance, especially in Florida.
Are there any hazards related to tornados that a standard
homeowners insurance policy won't cover?
Insurance companies are very careful the way they word their policies. In fact, if you ever read through your
homeowner's policy, you will see that the language is written in a legal like format because the policies are often
times based on legal disputes on coverage. Over the years, the language in insurance policies will change as
coverages and denials are challenged in court. That being said, it is wise to make sure you are in compliance
with the terms of your polic