Does Your Homeowners Insurance Cover Storm Damage?
With severe weather on the horizon, many Seattle-area homeowners may be wondering if their insurance will cover potential damage. The short answer: most damage to homes resulting from severe thunderstorms and high winds is indeed covered by homeowners insurance. However, there are significant factors to consider before filing a claim.
“In Washington, wind is covered, whether it’s from a tornado or hurricane or subhurricane winds,” stated Dave Newman, a Seattle insurance agent with State Farm.
Unlike states frequently hit by tornadoes and hurricanes, such as Florida, Washington residents typically do not need to purchase separate wind coverage. This is because wind disasters are relatively rare in the Pacific Northwest.
“All wind- and weather-related damage would be covered under your basic homeowners policy,” explained Aaron VanTuyl, a spokesperson for the Washington State Insurance Commissioner.
What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
Homeowners policies provide coverage for structures, personal property, and liability. They protect homeowners from financial responsibility if someone is injured on their property. However, insurance doesn’t cover all costs outright. Homeowners are responsible for a portion of the repairs before their policy kicks in, known as the “deductible.”
A typical deductible ranges from $500 to $2,000, but in the Seattle area, these tend to be higher. Newman mentioned that deductibles equal to 1% of the home’s value are now common.
Limitations and Other Considerations
There are limitations to be aware of with homeowners policies. Homeowners insurance specifically excludes damage to a vehicle parked on the property; comprehensive auto insurance is needed to cover these costs. Renters need renters insurance to cover their personal property, as it is not covered by the homeowner’s policy.
Additionally, homeowners policies do not cover damage from earthquakes or floods. Separate policies, or additional coverage to the homeowner’s policy, is typically required for these events. Coverage for fallen trees has its nuances. A homeowners policy usually covers the removal of fallen trees that land on covered structures, but many don’t provide much coverage for tree removal on the land itself.
What to Do After Storm Damage
Insurance experts generally advise against immediately contacting your insurance carrier. Document and assess the damage first. Take pictures and take steps to minimize further damage, such as covering a damaged roof with a tarp.
Before filing a claim, homeowners should also get a repair estimate to determine if the damage exceeds the deductible and confirm that the storm caused the damage. For instance, if the storm tears off a portion of the roof, the insurance company could deny the claim if the roof was already in bad condition.
“Insurance is for a catastrophe, it’s not for small stuff,” Newman said. “So, in a situation like that, it might be good if a person had an estimate before they brought their insurance company into it.”
Ryan Bettinger, the principal of Bellevue-based Paravene Insurance Partners, advised homeowners to be certain they intend to file a claim before notifying their insurance company. While you can ask an independent agent for advice, notifying the insurance company typically opens a claim, which can negatively impact your claim history.
“A lot of times our clients don’t even know if they want to file a claim,” Bettinger stated.
Even denied claims can affect a homeowner’s premium, according to VanTuyl. Generally, you have 60 days to file a claim from the date of the incident.
“Any claim you file, whether it is approved or denied, will go on your claims history, and that’s a very big factor in how your premiums are set going forward,” VanTuyl concluded.
