How to Prepare for Natural Disasters With the Right Home Insurance

Despite your best efforts, due diligence and timely maintenance, your home might still be at the mercy of circumstances beyond your control. Many incidents and perils can significantly impact your property and financial interests, regardless of your preparations and precautions. Securing appropriate insurance before a natural disaster strikes should be a top priority. At Lefebvre Insurance Agency, Inc., our dedicated and knowledgeable team is pleased to offer guidance.

What Natural Disasters Are Covered by Home Insurance?

You should first understand that not all natural disasters are treated the same by standard homeowners insurance policies. While many common incidents, such as lightning strikes and hail, are typically included as covered perils in many policies, many other natural disasters may be explicitly excluded. Industry standards may also change over time according to recent events and patterns. For example, as wildfires become more prevalent in some parts of the country, home insurance companies may start excluding them from standard policies.

How Can I Address Other Disaster-related Coverage Needs?

Given standard homeowners insurance policies’ common exclusions, you may need to augment your personal lines coverage portfolio with endorsements or additional policies, such as the following:

• Floods—These natural disasters are typically excluded from standard coverage. Fortunately, flood insurance may be available through the National Flood Insurance Program and private insurers, potentially helping you manage the costs of repairing your home or replacing belongings that may have been swept away.
• Earthquakes—Even a minor and isolated earthquake can cause extensive damage to your home and impose expensive financial ramifications. Given that these seismic events are also typically excluded from standard home insurance, you may want to look into earthquake insurance for financial protection.
• Named storms—Although wind-related damage is often covered in standard home insurance policies, you may need to navigate additional complexities regarding named storms, such as tropical storms and hurricanes. In such situations, your policy may carry a separate deductible, meaning you’d potentially have to pay more out of pocket for subsequent losses.

We’re Here to Help

Contact Lefebvre Insurance Agency, Inc. today to learn more about covering your home against natural disasters and compare personalized quotes.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.