Severe Storm Season Is Back: Are You Sure Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Covers Wind Damage?6/3/2025
 Last year’s hurricane season provided some hard lessons for thousands living in their direct paths. Torrential rains, followed by hurricane-force winds, wreaked devastation on areas with heavy tree densities. This combination created the perfect storm for trees, especially pines, to uproot and fall.
Given our country’s increase in wind-related weather disasters, insurance companies are changing coverage details in some geographic areas. What does this mean for those living in Georgia and South Carolina?  The aftermath of a weather disaster like Hurricane Helene can be overwhelming. Once the storm has passed and you begin assessing damage and making repairs, you might be wondering — do you need to update my insurance coverage?
The short answer is: possibly. Here are 5 items that trigger an update:  Insureds along the southeast corridor got a rude awakening in September as a result of the historic damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Many affected were far inland and geographically not used to the catastrophic levels of wind and water this storm produced. Thousands are still in process of understanding what their insurance policies cover, filing claims, and getting estimates for repairs. The damage from this hurricane included:
Most homeowners have a standard homeowners policy. What does that cover? It can vary significantly, but in general:  Even though meteorologists' technology resources allow us to anticipate some upcoming severe weather events, others can crop up with little warning.
Since these events can leave behind significant damage and disruption, policyholders should be prepared well ahead of time for such occurrences to ensure your safety and protect your property. Here are 5 key tips to help you stay prepared for a potential claim from a weather-related event:  We're well into severe storm season and have already seen some storms cause damage in our area. Before the next storm blows through, there are things you can do quickly beforehand to minimize weather-related damage and prevent an insurance claim.
In addition to tips I've mentioned before, here are 3 more tasks you can do now:  Damage from hurricanes can include some or all of the following:
The coverage of standard homeowners policies can vary significantly, but in general:  If you live in Georgia and South Carolina, there is a good possibility that you could experience damage from a hurricane-related event.
What insurance do you need to cover water and wind damage? Depending on exactly where you live, a good plan could include a combination of insurance policies. Here are some essential tips to take BEFORE a hurricane comes your way:  Storm season is underway and has already caused substantial damage over large areas of the south. There are things you can do ahead of time to minimize potential weather-related damage.
Here are 7 tips you can do quickly that can have a huge impact on minimizing weather-related damage and preventing the need to file insurance claims.  Have you experienced unusually windy days in recent months? The wind combined with recent rainy days has created the potential for trees to uproot and fall, as happened at the Masters Golf Tournament.
Did you know in 19 states, a general homeowners insurance policy does NOT cover wind damage? |
AuthorDennis Lam Archives
July 2024
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