Protecting your home from natural disaster is a must no matter where you live—but it’s especially critical if you live in an area that’s prone to severe weather.
And while most home insurance policies cover a wide range of potential disasters, you may or may not be protected against certain natural events, depending on your coverage and insurer.
Want to make sure your home and family are protected if an emergency strikes? Stay with us as we break down which natural disaster events are covered under basic policies—and which ones will require additional coverage.
Although natural disaster insurance isn’t an actual policy that you can purchase, your homeowners insurance already protects your property from certain disasters, depending on your homeowners policy details and your location.
Despite the wide coverage you get from a typical homeowners policy, it’s still important to note that your policy doesn’t cover everything—which we’ll go over in the section below. And even certain covered events, such as hail damage, volcanic eruptions, and tornadoes, are covered under most policies. However, if you live in an area prone to any of these, you might face some coverage limitations, so you’ll need to check with your insurance policy to verify coverage.
Because of the risk of costly natural disaster claims, there are quite a few natural disasters that are not covered by home insurance. These types of claims tend to be total losses, which means that private insurance companies typically can’t afford the risk. Fortunately, if you live in an area that’s more exposed to these types of natural disasters, there are usually other coverage options available.
The natural disasters that are not covered by most standard homeowners insurance policies include:
Insurance is one of those things you buy but hope to never use. But the thing about a disaster is that you never know when it will strike—which is why natural disaster insurance can give you the peace of mind that you’ll be protected and financially secure in an emergency. Whether you live in an area that’s prone to storm damage and flooding or you just want the extra level of protection, here’s how you can extend your coverage for every possible natural disaster.
How much does flood home insurance cost? The average cost of flood insurance runs approximately $700 a year for an NFIP policy, but rates vary depending on your location, coverage type, and flood risk.
How much does sinkhole insurance cost? Sinkhole insurance is typically very expensive. In some high-risk Florida counties, the annual premium may cost between $2,000 to $4,000. However, if your home has sinkhole damage and you’re uninsured, you would have to pay out-of-pocket to repair or rebuild your home. Considering that the average payout for a single sinkhole insurance claim is $140,000, it may be worth it if you own a home in a sinkhole prone area.
How much does earthquake home insurance cost? Coverage prices will vary depending on your location and policy, but Californians can expect to pay between $500 to $1,000 in annual premiums for every $100,000 of coverage.
How much does mudslide and landslide insurance cost? A DIC policy can be expensive, since the deductibles tied to this type of policy are based on a percentage rather than a fixed dollar amount—usually a percentage of the replacement cost of your home. The price of your premium will depend on the risk level and where you live, but a homeowner with a $300,000 house can expect to pay $1,000 or more per year for this type of coverage.
Keeping your monthly premium low starts with finding the best possible coverage rates—and we’ve done the search for you. Thanks to our fast and affordable online home insurance quotes, you can choose an auto insurance plan and get your coverage—all in a matter of minutes. Get your free quote today and enjoy the peace of mind that you and your family are financially protected against any disaster that comes your way.
