Blog

Is your home protected against extreme weather? It better be. According to a study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in 2020, weather events and natural disasters cost America about $95 billion in damages. And this year, the news has been just as — if not more — grim. While you can’t stop extreme weather, you can make sure your homeowners insurance is primed and ready to go. Unfortunately, sometimes homeowners don’t understand what their policy covers.

A recent report from Realtor.com found that just 56 percent of homeowners knew what to look for in their insurance policy. An additional 15 percent said they had no idea what to look for in the policy. That means most people need a brush-up on what homeowners insurance covers. Here’s a breakdown:

• Flooding. Flooding is the most common natural disaster in America, but the Realtor.com study found that just 12 percent of homeowners have this coverage. That’s because damage from flooding is usually not included in homeowners insurance. You must purchase a separate flood policy.
• Extreme winds. If high winds from a tornado or hurricane damage your house, it’s covered under homeowners insurance. The one catch is if you live in areas that are prone to tornadoes or hurricanes. In that case, you might need additional coverage for high wind damage.
• Earthquakes. Homeowners insurance doesn’t include damage from earthquakes. You must purchase a separate, specific policy.
• Hurricanes. Damage from wind brought on by hurricanes is usually covered in homeowners insurance. However, as you might have guessed, damage brought on by rain and flooding is not covered.

Article from Savvy Money.