In a Natural Disaster, Will Your Homeowners Insurance Cover You?

Have you given your home the protection it needs? It is very important that homeowners are fully aware of how they are financially covered in the event of a natural disaster. Standard homeowners’ insurance policies cover a wide range of situations, but there are other potential disasters that may need to be added to your policy. Insurance is necessary for anything likely to cause an expensive out-of-pocket fix.  Homeowners insurance covers items lost to theft, fire damage and other unfortunate circumstances, however not all natural disasters are covered.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in a Natural Disaster?

  • Fire and lightning
  • Windstorm and hail
  • Explosion
  • Riot or civil commotion
  • Damage caused by aircraft
  • Damage caused by vehicles
  • Smoke
  • Vandalism
  • Weight of ice and snow
  • Overflow of water from within plumping, heating/air conditioning units, fire protective systems and household appliances
  • Accidental discharge from household appliance or fire sprinklers
  • Freezing of plumbing, heating/air conditioning units, fire protective systems and household appliances

Disasters That Are Not Covered

These are common natural disasters that will not be covered under a standard homeowners policy:

  • Floods
  • Earthquakes
  • Maintenance damage
  • Sewer Backup

Depending on where you live, some homeowners need to consider additional coverage for:

  • Flooding
  • Storms (Hurricanes and Tornadoes)
  • Earthquakes
  • Volcanoes

 High-Risk Areas and High-Value Items

If you live in a high-risk area, it is especially important to consider how your homeowner’s insurance policy protects you. These homeowners typically purchase supplemental policies to cover a specific type of natural disaster. But if you live in a high-risk area, keep in mind that you may have to pay more for your general policy to cover the increased risk.

For the most part, all homeowner policies specifically exclude flood-related damage; which is a very common coverage to add. The exception is in regards to flooding from damaged plumbing infrastructure, such as leaking pipes.

You can also opt for enhanced coverage for high value items, such as fine art, antiques or other collectibles, or expensive jewelry, because coverage for these items may not be sufficient under the standard homeowners policy.

Home insurance in New Jersey is available to begin covering your assets. Insurance comes in all shapes and sizes, so a policy can be tailored to fit the individual’s circumstances. A New Jersey home insurance agent can help you build a policy that fits your home’s unique coverage needs. To insure your home, Provident Protection Plus will carefully consider all aspects of the structure itself, examine your lifestyle, your tolerance for risk, and other specific factors to offer you the most comprehensive protection.

About Provident Protection Plus

At Provident Protection Plus, we have served the businesses and residents of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania for more than 65 years. We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Provident Bank, the region’s premier banking institution, and we are prepared to offer you personal, business, employee benefits, and risk management solutions. To learn more about our coverage options, contact our specialists today at (888) 990-0526