09/02/2026
When severe weather hits, do you know what your homeowners' insurance actually covers?
Wind, hail, lightning, fallen trees, heavy rain and flooding can all cause significant damage—but they aren’t necessarily treated the same way by your insurance policy.
A few important things every homeowner should understand:
Wind & Hail: Damage may be covered by homeowners' insurance, but your policy may have a separate wind or hurricane deductible.
Fallen Trees: Coverage can depend on what caused the tree to fall and what property was damaged.
Water Damage: A sudden covered event, such as wind-driven rain entering through storm damage, is very different from rising groundwater or flooding.
Flooding: Standard homeowners' insurance generally does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is typically purchased separately.
Additional Living Expenses: If covered damage makes your home temporarily uninhabitable, your policy may help with additional costs such as lodging and meals—subject to your coverage and limits.
Before the next storm, take a few minutes to understand your deductibles, coverage limits and exclusions. Knowing how your policy responds before you need it can make a difficult situation much easier to navigate.
