What does windstorm insurance cover?
If your home is in a high-risk area, your standard homeowners insurance policy might exclude certain damages. This is often the case for homes in hurricane- or tornado-prone cities.
Homes in these at-risk areas often experience windstorms more frequently, or they may encounter larger and more intense storms that cause serious damage. If a heavy wind event occurs, a windstorm insurance policy will help pay for repairs and covered losses related to your:
Keep in Mind
A standard homeowners policy may cover some damages, like missing roof shingles. But the policy may exclude wind-related damages if your home is located in hurricane-prone states like Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas.[1]
What windstorm insurance doesn’t cover
Windstorm insurance covers damages that heavy winds cause. This means that it won’t cover water damage, flooding, or hail damage, even if the same storm caused it. Windstorm insurance only covers damages directly related to the wind event. You may need to purchase other riders in order to cover other damages, and these may have a separate deductible.[2]
Some examples of damages that windstorm insurance doesn’t typically cover include:
High-speed winds blowing a tree onto your car
Flooding and water intrusion due to storm surges
Water damage to the inside of your home after a covered wind event blew off a section of your roof
Some policies explicitly exclude other structures, like a pool or garage, while others will include this in your coverage. It’s very important that you read your policy documents closely to determine what damages it does and doesn’t cover, and whether you’ll need to buy additional insurance to adequately protect your home.
Important Information
Windstorm insurance is not the same as hurricane insurance. Even though hurricanes produce heavy, damaging winds, some windstorm insurance policies exclude named storms if you live in a coastal area. Conversely, other policies (especially in lower-risk areas) might exclude windstorm damages if the storm isn’t named or if winds don’t reach a certain speed.[3] [4]
Insurers may also deny your claim if you wait too long to report the damages and file. Be sure to follow your insurance company’s guidelines if you need to file a claim.