Severe Weather Home Insurance Preparedness

(guest post courtesy of Courtney Klosterman)

2024 is no stranger to extreme weather. In the past few months, California declared a state of emergency in response to life-threatening severe storms; Winter Storm Finn brought blizzard conditions throughout the Plains, Rockies, and Midwest (The Weather Channel); and Winter Storm Heather brought heavy snow and icy conditions from the Northwest to the South (The Weather Channel).

Heavy rain, snow, and wind can take a toll on homes. Now is the time for homeowners to prioritize preventative measures to help them stay ahead of major problems.

Hippo Home Insurance surveyed U.S.-based homeowners to learn about how confident they are with their insurance coverage, external factors impacting their financial preparations for severe weather, and what preparations they have been able to take so far.

Key takeaways from responding homeowners

• Homeowners may be overconfident about their homeowners insurance coverage when it comes to severe weather. Many homeowners (80%) are confident they have adequate coverage for severe weather or storm damage.

• However, only 32% said they reviewed their homeowners insurance in the past year to understand their storm- and severe weather-related coverage.

• To make matters worse, job loss would make many homeowners (68%) worried about covering their homeowners insurance deductible if their home experienced severe weather or storm-related damage.

• Homeowners are also struggling to cover unexpected severe weather costs because of economic conditions (44%), insurance costs (33%), and debt (32%).

• Although some homeowners are taking steps to help protect their homes from severe weather and storms, strategies like taking a home inventory of their belongings (22%) and contributing to an emergency fund (30%) are low on the list of priorities for homeowners.
  

Most are confident in insurance coverage for storms, despite only 32% saying they’ve reviewed their coverage in the past year

More than 80% of responding homeowners said they were confident their current homeowners insurance policy could financially protect them against severe weather and storm damage.

However, only 32% of responding homeowners said they reviewed their homeowners insurance in the past year to understand what is and isn’t covered in case of severe weather or storms. Home insurance policies typically renew annually and your coverage can change between renewals.

Regularly reviewing your homeowners insurance can help you decide whether to adjust your coverage. This includes considering add-ons for certain types of damage from weather events you may not have anticipated when you first bought your home. If you didn’t initially consider the impact of these events, you’re not alone—52% of responding homeowners from our 2023 extreme weather survey also said they ignored severe weather risks when purchasing their homes.

Ignoring these threats may cost you if you experience a peril that your policy doesn’t cover. A peril is an event that can lead to loss of value or damage to your home. For example, flood damage isn’t typically covered by a traditional homeowners insurance policy, and you will need to purchase separate flood insurance.

Policy language can be complex, so it is recommended that you check with your insurance provider or agent about changes to your policy ahead of your home insurance renewal period. Below are a couple examples of coverage you may already have through your homeowners policy:

• Loss of use coverage provides financial assistance if your home becomes unlivable after a covered loss (like if a covered windstorm impacts your home)

• Other structures coverage protects structures separated from your home (like sheds or fences)

However, homeowners policies have limitations. Below are additional types of severe weather-related coverage you can consider to help protect your home:

• Windstorm insurance provides coverage for high wind and hail damage

• Extended replacement cost helps cover additional expenses associated with rebuilding your home above the coverage limit for your house 

We recommend checking your homeowners insurance policy to learn about your current coverage. You can ask yourself the following questions below to help you consider factors that may have changed your coverage needs.

Adequate homeowners insurance is only one aspect for homeowners to consider when preparing their homes for severe weather.

Homeowners are taking steps to protect against severe weather—but could be doing more

We asked homeowners what preparations they made in the past year in the event severe weather or a storm impacted their homes.

Less than half (39%) of responding homeowners took steps to mitigate potential weather damage, like trimming trees and checking for drainage around the home. Addressing risks before a severe weather event can help prevent future issues. For example, removing overhanging tree limbs near your roof can help prevent roof damage.

Less than half (38%) of responding homeowners also said they learned basic DIY maintenance and repair skills to address minor damage themselves. Although it’s better to leave complex tasks, like extensive roof repairs, to the pros, you can make some minor preparations by yourself. This can include visually inspecting your roof for damage and cleaning your gutters before a storm.

Other tasks, like contributing to an emergency fund (30%) or taking a home inventory (22%), can help you financially prepare for potential damage.

While sufficient insurance coverage can help you financially recover from severe weather events, preventative maintenance can help minimize the potential damage in the first place.

For example, if your roof is missing some shingles, it may be more susceptible to water penetration during heavy rain. Replacing a few shingles can be a relatively small job compared to a roof replacement, depending on the extent of the damage.

Read the full Severe Weather Prep Report at Hippo.com.