Some of the most common causes of property damage worldwide are thunderstorms and flooding, and the US is no exception. In fact, the NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory reports around 100,000 thunderstorms annually. Moreover, 10% of these storms are severe, resulting in significant damage to numerous homes.
According to the rapid pace of global climate change, weather-related damage to your property has never been more likely than it is now. This raises the question of whether or not homeowners’ insurance policies will cover damage to their properties in bad weather.
This article will run you through everything you need to know about rain damage and your homeowners’ insurance coverage.
What’s in Your Standard Home Insurance Policy?
Rain damage is covered under the terms and circumstances of a basic homeowners’ insurance policy. A standard homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover all rain-related property damage. To guarantee that your property is fully protected against all sorts of rain damage, it is vital to have quality home insurance coverage.
A conventional house insurance coverage protects your home and its contents from harm caused by a covered peril. These perils usually include vandalism, theft, smoke, fire, hail, wind, thunderstorms, or lightning.
The Ways Your Policy Protects You
In the event of peril, your standard home insurance policy usually provides the following:
- Liability Protection Coverage: A standard homeowners policy will protect you and your family from the financial consequences of litigation stemming from bodily injury or property damage you caused to others. Even injuries or damages caused by your dogs are covered. However, keep in mind that the liability insurance does not cover any losses or injuries you or your family members may sustain.
- Personal Belongings Coverage: The contents of your house are also covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy. It reimburses you for a portion of the value of your possessions that have been lost, stolen, or destroyed.
- Dwelling Coverage: If your major house structures are damaged by a covered risk, dwelling coverage will assist you in rebuilding or repairing them.
- Other Home Structures Coverage: Outside and associated buildings to your house, such as decks, garages, and porches, are covered by a standard home insurance policy.
- Additional Living Expenses Coverage: Your house may become uninhabitable due to some damages. Your homeowner’s insurance coverage will cover any extra living expenses you incur while away from home.
Rain Damages Usually Excluded from Your Insurance
Some damages to your house caused by water or rain are not covered under a typical homeowner’s insurance policy terms and conditions. Here are some damages that may not be covered:
- Rain damage that developed over time, such as through accumulated rainwater dripping through your skylight window
- Damage from neglect such as poorly maintained roofs, leaving your windows open, or damaging your own home
- Gradual onsets of rain damage, such as cracks that may allow rainwater to enter through the home’s foundation or windows
- Deteriorated home structures such as damaged roofs or windows allowing rainwater in
Rain floods and storm surges also fall under a separate coverage called flood insurance.
Conclusion
Homeowners’ insurance policies usually do not cover all sorts of rain-related damages. To enjoy full coverage against all possible instances of rain damage, you should have a good quality home insurance policy. This article has outlined some of the primary ways a typical homeowner’s policy protects you from rain damage and how it does not.
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