Does Insurance Cover Wind Damage?

Wind damage is a frequent cause of property loss across the United States. Understanding how insurance policies respond to such events is important, as coverage can vary significantly based on the policy type and terms. Navigating insurance complexities before or after a wind event helps ensure appropriate protection.

Understanding Your Insurance Policy and Wind Coverage

Standard homeowners insurance policies, such as HO-3 and HO-5, typically include wind damage as a covered peril. A “peril” refers to an event or circumstance that causes property damage. These policies generally protect against damage from high winds, including those associated with tornadoes, hurricanes, and severe thunderstorms. Renters and commercial property insurance also commonly provide coverage for wind damage to personal belongings or business assets.

Insurance policies categorize covered events as “named perils” or “open perils.” A named perils policy specifically lists covered events, such as fire, lightning, and windstorm; if not listed, it’s not covered. Conversely, an open perils policy covers all causes of loss unless specifically excluded, offering broader protection. Most standard homeowners policies operate on an open perils basis for the dwelling structure, meaning wind damage is covered unless an exclusion applies.

Wind damage coverage extends to several aspects of a property. This includes the dwelling structure, covering repairs to roofs, walls, and windows. Other structures, such as detached garages or sheds, are also generally covered. Personal property, meaning contents within the home or business, is protected if damaged by wind. If wind damage renders a home uninhabitable, policies often include Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage, which helps with costs like temporary housing and food. This coverage can also extend to damage from trees that fall due to wind.

Common Exclusions and Limitations for Wind Damage

While wind damage is widely covered, policies contain exclusions and limitations that can affect payouts. Deductibles are a primary example, representing the amount a policyholder pays out-of-pocket before coverage begins. For wind damage, policies may have a standard fixed-dollar deductible or a specific wind or hurricane deductible. These specialized deductibles are often percentage-based, calculated as a percentage of the home’s insured value, typically ranging from 1% to 5%. For instance, a 2% wind deductible on a $300,000 home means the policyholder pays the first $6,000. Hurricane deductibles are triggered by named storms and can be higher, sometimes up to 10% of the insured value.

Certain perils are excluded from standard wind damage coverage, even if they occur concurrently with a wind event. Flood damage, for instance, is a common exclusion, requiring a separate flood insurance policy. If rain enters through a wind-damaged opening, the opening might be covered, but the resulting flood damage is not. Earth movement, such as mudslides or sinkholes, is another exclusion, requiring separate coverage.

Damage from a lack of proper maintenance or pre-existing conditions is not covered by insurance. Insurers expect property owners to maintain their property to prevent avoidable losses. If a poorly maintained roof sustains wind damage, the insurer may reduce the payout or deny the claim due to the pre-existing condition. Policies also have specific limits on the maximum amount the insurer will pay for different categories of damage, such as the dwelling structure or personal property. These limits define the maximum financial protection available, regardless of the total cost of the damage.

Steps to Take After Wind Damage

After wind damage, ensuring safety is the first consideration. Property owners should assess the situation for immediate hazards, such as downed power lines or structural instability. If safe, temporary repairs, like tarping a damaged roof or boarding up broken windows, can prevent further damage and are often reimbursable. Keeping receipts for all materials and services related to these temporary measures is important for potential reimbursement.

Documenting the damage thoroughly is an important step for an insurance claim. Before any significant cleanup or repair, policyholders should take extensive photos and videos of all affected areas, both inside and out. This visual evidence should capture wide shots showing the overall impact, as well as close-ups of specific damage, noting the date and time. Creating a detailed inventory of damaged personal property, including descriptions, estimated values, and receipts where possible, further supports the claim.

Contacting the insurance company promptly is necessary to initiate the claims process. Policyholders should have their policy number available and provide a clear description of the damage. The insurer will assign an adjuster to evaluate the damage. Cooperating with the adjuster, providing them access to the property, and answering questions honestly can facilitate the assessment.

Obtaining repair estimates from qualified contractors is another important action. These estimates should detail the scope of work and costs involved in restoring the property. While the insurance adjuster will provide their own assessment, independent estimates can help ensure all damage is accounted for. Understanding how the claim settlement is handled is important; policies may pay out based on actual cash value (ACV), which accounts for depreciation, or replacement cost value (RCV), which covers the cost of new items without depreciation.