Is My Home Covered if It’s Damaged in a Natural Disaster?

Here are some quick facts:

Home insurance covers most types of severe weather, but it does not cover floods or earthquakes.
You need separate policies for these hazards.
Homeowners in coastal areas may also need a separate policy for wind.

Question I’m wondering how home insurance works when there’s a natural disaster. Am I covered for anything nature brings, or are some things excluded?

Janna Briggs, a Farmers Insurance^® agent in Georgetown, Texas, has this to say about covering your home for natural disasters.

Answer Your home insurance policy covers many natural disasters and weather events, including wind, hail, lightning strikes and wildfires. However, it does not cover damage caused by floods or earthquakes. You would need a separate policy for each of these perils. Many homeowners may not realize this until it’s too late. To have full coverage for natural disasters, you really need three types of polices: home, flood and earthquake.

If you live in a coastal area like I do, you may also need a separate policy for wind. This is often called hurricane coverage — although it covers all sources of wind. Your local agent can tell you whether wind is covered by your regular home policy, and can help you select a separate wind policy if you ultimately decide you want it.

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