What Your Homeowner’s Insurance Might Not Cover

Bad weather is a part of life. No matter where you live, some inclement weather is bound to come around and put your house under strain. Whether that’s thunderstorms, tornadoes, earthquakes, or sweltering heat just depends on where you live. In some parts of the world, you could see all of that and more in just a few short months. You might be wondering about your homeowner’s insurance when you’re thinking about your region’s most pressing weather concerns. If you’re not sure what your insurance covers, you should consult your policy and see what your home is insured for. There are two major considerations that are normally absent from a homeowner’s insurance policy: flood and earthquakes.

Flood Insurance

Homeowner’s insurance protects against some forms of water damage, but it usually doesn’t include any coverage for flooding. If a pipe freezes and bursts, causing water to flood into your basement, that’s usually going to be covered. However, if a nearby river jumps its banks and causes flooding in your basement, even though it’s the same damage, you probably won’t be covered unless you have flood insurance. Typically, you’ll want to take out a flood insurance policy if your home lies in a low elevation that is prone to flooding. For instance, if you live close to the shore but your home is below sea level, it would be highly advisable to get flood insurance. Likewise, if your home is on waterfront property, it’s a good idea to cover it against all forms of water damage.

Earthquake Insurance

Depending on where you live, earthquakes could range from vanishingly uncommon to a near-daily occurrence. If you’re nowhere near a fault line, you probably can get along just fine with no earthquake insurance. After all, your homeowner’s insurance will cover the vast majority of damage or loss that your home could incur. Meanwhile, if you live directly on top of a fault line, it’s hard to advise you to do anything other than to take out a policy to cover earthquake damage immediately. A strong quake could cause your entire home to collapse. That’s not the kind of loss that most people are financially prepared to handle. If you’re caught in a situation where a flood or earthquake causes serious damage to your home, it’s too late to take out a policy. Be proactive and protect yourself from financial ruin by taking out policies to protect yourself if your home is in a region prone to these kinds of events.