What Storm Damage Does Homeowners Insurance Usually Cover?

Homeowners insurance generally pays for storm damage caused by wind, hail, lightning, and the weight of snow or ice. Standard policies usually do not cover flooding, and some insurers require extra protection for certain storm-related losses. In some locations, you may also have to pay a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible.

Pro tip

Homeowners insurance often covers wind, hail, lightning, and other covered storm perils, but flood damage and sewer backups usually need separate coverage.

Knowing what your policy includes and excludes can help you avoid surprise repair bills after severe weather. Here’s a look at the kinds of storm damage insurance often covers, when extra protection may be needed, and what to expect when you file a claim.

Key Takeaways

• Standard homeowners insurance typically covers storm damage caused by wind, hail, lightning, and fire, including damage to your home and personal belongings.
• Flooding, earth movement, and sewer backups are usually excluded from standard homeowners insurance and may require separate policies or endorsements.
• Some policies exclude certain windstorm losses, especially in coastal or hurricane-prone areas.
• Hurricane and windstorm claims may come with separate deductibles that can be higher than your regular homeowners deductible.
• Review your policy with a licensed insurance agent to identify coverage gaps, exclusions, and deductibles before a storm hits.

What kinds of storm damage are covered by homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance can help with several types of storm damage, from strong winds to lightning strikes. Coverage depends on what caused the damage, what your policy excludes, and which deductibles apply. The sections below explain some of the common ways home insurance can help protect you after a storm.

Wind damage

Standard homeowners insurance typically covers wind damage, including damage from tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter storms in many states. For example, if strong winds blew shingles off your roof, replacement costs would likely be covered.

In coastal states, policies may carry a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, which can raise your out-of-pocket costs depending on your insurer and where you live. In some coastal areas, windstorm coverage may be excluded altogether, requiring a separate windstorm policy or an endorsement for coverage.

Hail damage

Home insurance usually covers storm damage caused by hail. If hail dents, cracks, or punctures your siding, your policy will likely help pay for repairs.

Some insurers, however, use separate wind and hail deductibles or restrict coverage for older roofs.

Lightning damage

Home insurance typically covers fire, smoke, and power-surge damage caused by lightning. If a lightning strike triggers a surge that damages electronics such as a television or refrigerator, repair or replacement costs are often covered.

Coverage for electrical damage from surges can vary depending on the cause of the surge and the wording of your policy.

Fallen trees and branches

If a storm with strong wind or lightning brings down a healthy tree or branches onto your home and causes damage, home insurance will likely apply. That protection does not usually extend to dead or decaying trees, which are your responsibility to maintain or remove if they pose a risk.

Tree removal is generally covered only when the tree damages your home. If a tree falls but does not damage the house, removing it is usually your responsibility. In some cases, though, a fallen tree that blocks access, such as a driveway, may be covered.

Snow and ice

Home insurance also typically covers storm-related damage from snow and ice. If heavy snow causes part of your roof to collapse, coverage will likely apply. Likewise, if freezing temperatures burst a pipe, the resulting damage may also be covered.

What storm damage is not covered by home insurance?

Standard homeowners insurance does not cover every type of storm damage. Some losses require separate policies or endorsements. Below are common exclusions found in home insurance policies.

Flooding

Standard home insurance does not cover flood damage. For example, if a storm brings heavy rain that floods your foundation, standard coverage would likely not pay for it. Flood protection is usually available through a separate flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program or private insurers.

Sewer backup

Heavy rain can cause sewer backups that flood a home, but standard homeowners insurance usually does not cover that damage. If water backs up through drains, toilets, or sump pumps, you may have to pay for repairs yourself unless you add sewer backup coverage.

Earth movement

Some storm-related losses are excluded, including earth movement and earthquakes. If a storm causes erosion that leads to a landslide and damages your home, standard home insurance would not typically apply. A Difference in Conditions policy may provide coverage for landslides, mudflows, earthquakes, and floods.

Wear and tear or poor maintenance

Homeowners coverage usually excludes damage caused by gradual wear and tear or poor maintenance. For instance, if an older roof leaks during a storm because cracked shingles were never repaired, the damage likely would not be covered.

Does home insurance cover roof damage from a storm?

Home insurance may cover roof damage after a storm, depending on what caused it. Roofs damaged by wind, hail, lightning, and falling objects such as tree branches or yard furniture blown by strong winds are typically covered. If lightning strikes your roof and damages shingles, repairs would likely be covered.

But damage caused by flooding, wear and tear, or poor maintenance is often excluded. In some cases, windstorm damage to the roof may also be excluded depending on your policy and where you live.

Pro tip

Review your policy to see which storm-related roof losses are covered and which are excluded. That can help you fill coverage gaps with additional protection if needed.

Does home insurance cover storm water damage?

Some storm-related water damage may be covered, but it depends on how the water entered your home. If the water came in because of another covered event, you will likely be protected. For example, if a tree crashes through your roof or a window and rainwater enters your home, the damage may be covered. Water damage from a pipe that freezes and suddenly bursts during a winter storm is also often covered.

Water damage is usually not covered if it comes from flooding unless you have separate flood insurance. Backup from an outside sewer or drain is also generally excluded unless you add extra coverage. Even when a loss is covered, payment is limited by your policy limits and reduced by your deductible.

Are tornado and hurricane losses covered?

Tornado and hurricane damage are often covered by homeowners insurance, but coverage varies by policy and location. Wind damage from either the storm itself or objects blown by the wind is usually included in standard coverage. In some states, however, wind-related damage may be excluded, leaving you responsible for the costs unless you buy separate windstorm coverage.

Flooding caused by tornadoes and hurricanes is also typically excluded unless you have flood insurance.

Homeowners in hurricane-prone regions may also face a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, which can raise the amount they must pay after a covered loss.

How do storm deductibles work?

Storm deductibles are policy terms that require a separate deductible for storm-related claims instead of the standard homeowners deductible. They can be a flat amount or a percentage of your home’s insured value, often between 1% and 10%. These deductibles are usually higher because insurers face greater risk of large claims after a major storm.

For example, if your home is insured for $300,000 and your policy includes a 5% hurricane deductible, you would pay the first $15,000 of covered hurricane damage.

Storm deductibles usually fall into one of two categories, depending on your policy:

• Hurricane deductibles: These apply only when damage is caused by a named storm or reaches a certain level of intensity, and they are not triggered by ordinary wind damage.
• Windstorm deductibles: These apply to any kind of wind-related damage.

Only 19 states and Washington, D.C. have some form of storm deductible. Not every homeowners policy in those areas includes one, so check your declarations page or contact your insurer to see which deductibles apply and when they take effect.

How to file a homeowners insurance claim after storm damage

Once the storm has passed and it is safe to inspect your property, take the following steps if you discover damage:

1. Take photos and videos to document all damage.
2. Make a detailed list of damaged personal belongings.
3. Contact your insurance company to begin the claims process.
4. If you must make emergency repairs right away, save all receipts to include with your claim.
5. If your home is unlivable, keep receipts for hotels, meals, and other temporary living expenses for possible loss-of-use reimbursement.
6. Obtain written estimates from reputable, licensed contractors for repair costs, and be cautious of scammers by researching any contractor you consider.
7. If an adjuster needs to inspect the damage, cooperate fully and walk the property with them to explain what happened.

Storm damage coverage at a glance

Here are the main points to remember about storm damage coverage:

• Standard home insurance typically covers many storm-related losses, including wind, lightning, and hail.
• Floods, earth movement, sewer backups, and poor maintenance are usually excluded, even if they happen after or because of a storm.
• Roof damage from storms is often covered, though exclusions may apply depending on the cause.
• You are typically covered for wind damage from hurricanes and tornadoes, but flood damage usually requires separate flood insurance.
• Windstorm coverage may be excluded depending on where you live.
• Some insurers use separate deductibles for storm-related claims based on location.

Keep copies of all claim-related documents, receipts, and communications with your insurer until the claim is fully resolved.

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How to make sure you are covered before the next storm

To prepare before the next storm arrives, consider these steps:

• Review your policy to confirm your dwelling coverage is high enough to rebuild your home after a major loss.
• Check whether you have a separate storm deductible and how much you may need to pay out of pocket.
• Create a home inventory to track your belongings, speed up claims, and confirm whether your personal property coverage is sufficient.
• Consider adding coverage for floods, sewer backups, and other risks not included in standard home insurance.
• Compare quotes from three to five insurers to see whether you can get the coverage you need at a lower price.

Frequently asked questions

Will home insurance pay for a new roof after storm damage?

Homeowners insurance may pay to replace a roof if a covered storm causes major damage. The final payout depends on the extent of the damage, your deductible, and whether your policy uses replacement cost or actual cash value coverage.

How long do you have to file a storm damage insurance claim?

You usually need to file a storm damage claim within one year of the event, although the deadline can range from 30 days to two years depending on your insurer, policy, and state laws.

Does home insurance cover storm damage to fences and walls?

Yes, home insurance should cover storm damage to fences and walls caused by covered perils such as wind or falling trees. Coverage limits, deductibles, and exclusions may still apply, especially for fences damaged by windstorms.

Does filing a storm damage claim increase your premium?

Filing a storm damage claim may or may not affect your premium, depending on the claim and your insurer. Contact your insurance agent to understand how a claim could affect your rate.