Storm Damage to a House

Despite the fact that a storm is considered to be a much lesser disaster than a hurricane, the damage caused by it can be significant. The very concept of a storm presupposes a combination of several weather factors at once. This is a strong wind and rain or other types of precipitation, and possible strong waves if you are in the immediate vicinity of a reservoir. However, besides making you wet to the skin and leading to hypothermia, storms can also damage your property. In particular, the statistics of insurance companies show that about 18% of all the insured events of damage to private houses and apartments are related to storm damage.

What Is Considered Storm Damage to a House?

Accidents that are related to storm damage are very different, and the scale of damage can differ just as much. Sometimes a storm can only burn a light bulb or damage a toaster. Such minor incidents do not even reach insurance companies, since such damages must be covered by the insured themselves on the principle of their own responsibility.

Yet, there is also more considerable damage that could be caused by a storm. What is it, you may ask?

• Roof damage caused by a storm. In some cases, the whole roof could be blown away. In other cases, just several tiles get damaged. Yet, all this damage could lead to more considerable results as it provokes roof leaks and then could lead to water damage and mold appearance.
• Window damage is also quite a common situation. Wind, rain and hail can damage glass and window frames. No less dangerous are branches and thickets, which, under the force of a storm, can damage windows. The same goes for doors.
• Damage to the siding might also occur. As a result of a severe storm, accompanied by hail or freezing rain, the siding can come off or dents from the blows of hailstones can appear. Thunderstorms might have no less destructive effect on plaster facades, wood or cladding.
• Storm damage to a house is not limited to the building itself. It is not uncommon for your property in the yard to be subject to storm damage. The garage, fence, gates, outbuildings and gazebos - all this can be destroyed by the will of the elements.
• Power lines, electronics and home appliances can also be damaged during a storm. If the force of nature has damaged the electrical grid, it will lead to voltage surges, short circuits and power outages, which can be bad for your electronic and electrical devices.

As you can see, the storm damage to the house can be caused by various types of disaster striking at once, e.g. wind, hail or rain.

Is It Real to Cope With the Storm Damage to the House Yourself?

What can you do to prevent storm damage to your home? Here are three simple tips:

1. Install a lightning rod to protect your dwelling against the damage caused by lightning.
2. When the storm starts, move loose objects outside to a safer place.
3. Unplug consumer electronics as soon as you receive a storm warning or sense an impending thunderstorm.

In case the storm is already ruining your house, it is better to find a safe place for you, your family and pets to wait until nature calms down. And then it is necessary to make your house ready to live in again.

In the most complex cases, you may need the help of 911 services. It is quite a rare thing when a storm damages a house to the ground. But it can happen. In other cases, it is better to start restoration following our tips. Here they are:

1. Inspect the house, if it is safe enough, to list all the damage caused by the storm. It may require some time. If you think your home is not suitable for staying there at night, you should rent some accommodation to move your family and the most important belongings for the time of the house restoration.
2. Try not to move anything before you get in touch with your insurance company. All the damage should stay untouched so an insurance adjuster will also inspect it and make a report.
3. Call your insurer as soon as possible. Arrange the visit of an insurance adjuster and try to document all the damage yourself. It will come in handy when claiming storm damage compensation.
4. After the visit of an insurance adjuster, you can start your restoration routines. In case the damage is not considerable, you can try to fix it yourself. For example, if the storm has damaged only the plaster on the facade of your house, you can cover it with a new layer of plaster without calling repairmen.
5. If your house requires professional aid, it is better to call your service company to evaluate and repair it. One more tip: take an estimate from the servicemen to add it to your insurance claim.

Our guidelines may be helpful if you are distressed by a storm. And we insist you should apply to your insurance company ASAP.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Storm Damage?

Usually, a standard homeowners insurance policy covers storm damage to the building. But, some companies do not include fences, barns and other outbuildings in the list. Besides, you can claim alternative accommodation if you have no opportunity to live in the ruined house. You can also add some documents to your claim to pretend for a higher compensation rate. They might be the following:

• your own evidence of the storm damage, e.g. photos, videos, pieces of evidence from 911 rescuers,
• bills from repair teams or experts,
• your hotel or rent bills in case of alternative accommodation.

How to Deal with Your Insurance Company in Case of Storm Damage?

Sometimes you may need some help to deal with your insurer. In that case, you are welcome to hire a wind damage public adjuster, who is expienced in storm damage. In this way you can get the maximum compensation and get this burden off your shoulders.