A natural disaster has the potential to wreak havoc on your finances. Fortunately, a typical home insurance policy offers substantial protection against many of the financial hardships that can arise from such disasters. However, certain vulnerabilities may persist. Understanding the extent of coverage provided by home insurance in the event of natural disasters can enhance your readiness for unforeseen circumstances. Moreover, acquainting yourself with strategies to safeguard your home against natural disasters can mitigate potential damage.
How prevalent are natural disasters?
Natural disasters have the capacity to inflict significant harm on homes within their vicinity, leading to various forms of damage such as broken windows, water intrusion, and structural deterioration. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States encountered 28 severe weather events each costing a billion dollars or more in 2023 — marking a record high for a single calendar year. These events resulted in an estimated total damage of approximately $93 billion, comprising:
- 1 winter storm affecting the northeastern U.S.
- 1 wildfire impacting Lahaina on Maui Island, Hawaii
- 1 drought and heat wave affecting the central and southern U.S.
- 4 floods affecting California, Florida, and the eastern and northeastern U.S.
- 2 tornadoes affecting the central and southeastern U.S.
- 2 tropical cyclones, including Hurricane Idalia in Florida and Typhoon Mawar in Guam
- 17 severe weather and hail events across the U.S.
Tips to prepare your home for a natural disaster
It’s crucial to fortify your home against potential disasters well before they occur. Taking proactive measures is essential. While constructing homes with wind-resistant and fire-resistant materials provides optimal protection, it’s not always feasible. However, there are still effective ways to reinforce your home against natural disasters without requiring extensive renovations.
Reinforce doors and windows
In regions prone to hurricanes or tornadoes, the force of winds can dislodge doors and shatter windows with flying debris. To mitigate damage, install wind-resistant doors and windows or reinforce existing ones with storm-proof shutters. Alternatively, in emergencies, boarding up windows and doors with plywood can provide temporary protection against strong winds and projectiles.
Find water, gas and electrical lines
As a storm approaches, emergency instructions may advise turning off the water, gas, and electricity in your home to prevent flooding and fire risks. Unattended water and power lines can exacerbate damage. In the event of an evacuation order, ensure to disconnect these utilities before leaving to mitigate potential hazards.
Use sandbags
During a hurricane, sandbags serve as a barrier against floodwater, particularly in flood-prone regions or around doors. Properly stacked sandbags, at least one foot high, offer sufficient protection, especially during storm surges. Having a few on hand before an expected storm can save time and prevent last-minute rushes to hardware stores, making it worthwhile to store them in your garage if space allows.
Secure outdoor furniture
Before a storm strikes, secure any outdoor furniture on your porch or patio by tying it down to prevent it from being blown away. Items like sporting equipment, grills, or umbrellas should be brought indoors if feasible. Additionally, ensure that toys, yard tools, and other small objects are not left outside, as they could cause damage to your property or neighboring properties during strong winds.
Prune large trees
During a storm, trees pose a significant risk of damage, especially if heavy branches overhang the roof of a home. These branches can easily break and cause injuries to occupants. To mitigate this risk, it’s important to regularly trim large trees on your property and encourage neighbors to do the same for trees that extend onto your property. Additionally, if you reside in an area prone to wildfires, creating a defensible space between your home and any nearby foliage can help prevent stray embers from igniting your property.
Secure heavy furniture to the walls
Earthquakes have the potential to topple heavy furniture, such as refrigerators, posing serious risks, particularly to children. To prevent injuries and damage, it’s advisable to secure heavy furniture to the walls using brackets, especially in homes situated on or near fault lines. Additionally, ensure that surrounding items are not susceptible to damage in the event of a fall.
Practice fire-smart landscaping
Growing fire-resistant plants and maintaining a well-watered yard and garden can serve as effective measures against wildfires encroaching on your property. Regular upkeep of your lawn, devoid of overgrown, dried-out grass, can further reduce the risk. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that under certain conditions, nearly any vegetation can combust.
Prevent pipe bursts during freezes
Pipes left exposed are vulnerable to freezing and bursting, particularly in areas prone to severe cold spells. To safeguard against this risk, consider insulating your pipes using materials such as foam tubing or heat tape, readily available at hardware stores. For extreme cold conditions, experts suggest a two-layer approach: fully insulate the pipes and then wrap them with plastic, sealing the ends with tape. This double insulation serves as a barrier against the cold, preventing pipe contents from freezing and expanding.
Create an emergency plan and kit
An emergency kit should include essential items such as non-perishable food, bottled water, medications, and chargers for cell phones and radios. Additionally, it’s advisable to maintain a physical document containing evacuation routes, insurance details, local radio stations, and a checklist for securing the home. Having both digital and physical copies can prove invaluable during power outages. Each household member should be familiar with the emergency plan for various disasters and aware of the kit’s location. Establishing a safe meetup point or communication method for family members outside the home is also recommended, considering that cell phone service may be unavailable post-disaster.
Prepare for a power outage
Preparing for a potential power outage involves creating a list of essential devices that require connection to an alternative power source. It’s beneficial to have backup mobile batteries, battery packs, flashlights, headlamps, and even a portable generator on hand. To prevent food spoilage in the refrigerator during an extended outage, consider using cooler packs to maintain lower temperatures for a longer duration.
Consider a plan for pets
Developing an emergency kit for your pets is essential for ensuring their safety, comfort, and well-being during a natural disaster. Ensure you have a leash, harness, pet carrier, or other means of transporting your pets in case of evacuation. Additionally, your kit should include provisions such as food, drinking water, litter (if applicable), medication, medical records, food and water bowls, and a bed (if space permits).
What home insurance covers during natural disasters
A standard home insurance policy provides financial protection against various natural disasters, depending on the covered perils outlined in your policy. Typically, under an HO-3 policy, you can expect coverage for:
- Thunderstorms
- Hurricanes
- Tornados
- Wildfires
- Blizzards
- Falling objects
- High winds
- Freezing temperatures
- Weight of snow and ice
Such coverage typically extends to damage to the home’s exterior, as well as personal belongings both inside and outside the property. Loss of use coverage may also help with temporary accommodation and meal expenses if you need to vacate the premises during repairs.
However, standard policies often exclude certain natural disasters, such as flood or earthquake damage. Residents in flood-prone or earthquake-prone areas are advised to consider separate flood insurance and earthquake insurance policies. In some regions, damage from hurricanes may be covered, but with a separate deductible, typically ranging from 1 to 5 percent of the home’s insured value, particularly in coastal areas prone to hurricane damage. Similarly, wildfire damage might not be included in standard policies for those residing in wildfire zones.