Will your insurance cover all your damage in a storm?

As another hurricane season ends, it is not too late for a storm to strike the Lonestar State. Before it happens, you may want to take a look at your policy to ensure your insurance policy covers what you think.

Chances are, you do not have the comprehensive coverage you believe. Should a storm strike, you may not get the kind of attention and assistance you think your policy provides.

What is hurricane insurance?

States prone to hurricanes have standard policy riders that set out the type of coverage the insurer will pay in the event of a hurricane. It is important to note that storms often require you to pay a higher deductible. Some of the main elements a hurricane policy covers include:

• Roof damage caused by wind
• Downed trees and limbs
• Window damage

Basically, policies cover exterior damage to a home.

What about water intrusion?

Certain events may happen along with a hurricane that your policy will not cover. For instance, insurers usually do not cover flooding under hurricane policies, even if the storm caused the flooding. Your mortgage company may require flood insurance if you live in a flood-prone area.

Even if you are not in such an area, a hurricane may bring high waters and a deluge of rain that becomes impossible to stop. It is likely, then, that you do not have flood insurance. Whether the water accumulated from a damaged roof or the ground may become hard to disseminate in the aftermath; thus, the insurer may give you problems covering interior damage.

You may feel overwhelmed and defeated when dealing with the stress of a claim denial. You may want to speak with someone who handles insurance companies and knows what you need to do for help.