Is Your Home Insurance Policy Missing Key Weather Coverage?

When was the last time you reviewed your home insurance policy? Many homeowners and renters are surprised when they read the fine print and discover coverage gaps tied to weather damage and natural disasters. Here is what to check before the next storm, flood, wildfire, hurricane, or winter weather event puts your home at risk.

What Your Home Insurance Usually Covers After a Storm

Most home insurance packages cover the extreme weather events that Americans typically fear. For instance, most policies provide coverage for fire damage, including wildfires. This includes monetary compensation for smoke damage.

Standard policies also usually cover wind damage and some covered water damage. This means that damage incurred by a tornado should be covered. Lightning strikes that result in a fire are also usually part of a barebones policy.

There is a grey area when it comes to damage from hailstorms. While structural damage is generally part of the policy, you may have a harder time getting reimbursed for cosmetic damage. This includes damage to landscaping or dents to gutters that do not compromise the structural integrity.

When it comes to winter storms, you can expect a standard policy to cover damage caused by the weight of heavy snow and ice. This includes roof collapses. As long as the homeowner or renter did not intentionally turn off the heat, damage caused by frozen pipes is also covered under most conventional policies.