Wind can seriously damage your home, and may impact everything from the roof to the siding and shingles. If wind damages your home, your homeowners insurance should offer some protection. Just how much your insurance covers depends on your policy type and even the state you live in, so it’s important to review your coverage ahead of time and make sure you have the protection you need.
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Many standard home insurance policies cover damage caused by wind and hail. This coverage often includes damage caused by hurricanes, thunderstorms, microbursts, nor’easters, and tornadoes. Chances are your policy covers several types of wind damage.
Chances are your insurance will help to pay for the repair or replacement of your home’s roof. If your roof is older or there are any maintenance issues you haven’t addressed, your insurance might pay less toward the repairs or replacement. For example, if an assessor determines your roof was already partially damaged before the storm, you’ll receive a lower reimbursement from your insurance company.
Many standard insurance policies include other structures coverage, which applies to detached structures on your property, like a barn or shed. If you have other structures coverage, it would likely cover roof damage to these structures.
The siding or shingles on your home help to protect the structure. Most policies include coverage that will pay for the cost of replacing damaged shingles or siding on your home.
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Is wind damage covered by home insurance? Not always. If you’re in a state that’s at high risk for tornadoes or hurricanes, like Alabama or North Carolina, you may be required to purchase a policy add-on or a standalone windstorm policy if you want to protect your home against wind or hail damage.
Additionally, there are 19 states in which insurers charge a hurricane or named storm deductible. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, these states include:
A named storm deductible applies to claims for damage caused by a named storm, like a named tropical storm or hurricane. These deductibles are larger than your traditional homeowners insurance deductible. They’re calculated as between 1% and 10% of your home’s value. For example, if you have a 3% named storm deductible on a home worth $300,000, you would have to pay $9,000 before your insurance would cover the remaining costs of repairing your home.
Additionally, if your homeowners insurance deductible applies per event, that means that you would have to pay the deductible again if another storm damages your home – even if it happens during the same year as the initial storm. Deductibles may be charged per storm, per season, or per calendar year, so it’s essential to read and understand your homeowners insurance policy.
Does homeowners insurance cover storm damage? The answer is, it depends. Exact coverage depends on your policy and your state, and you need to pay close attention to your deductible amounts.
Before you face storm damage, make sure that you have the coverage you need. Get free, personalized home insurance quotes today to explore your options and find the best policy.
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Paige Cerulli Paige Cerulli is a freelance content writer and journalist who specializes in personal finance topics. She graduated from Westfield State University and brings more than a decade of professional writing experience to the ConsumerCoverage team. Paige’s work has appeared in outlets including USA Today, Business Insider, and more.
