- Dangerous travel conditions, ice/snow and flooding possible in the mountains Tuesday and Wednesday
- Weather Impact Alert: Dangerous travel conditions, ice/snow and flooding possible in the mountains Tuesday and Wednesday
- North Carolinians perplexed by unexpected DMV refunds tied to Hurricane Helene relief
- Yes, NCDOT is sending Hurricane Helene relief checks
- ‘This is a years-long recovery’: The Panhandle rebuilds after devastating wildfires
Homeowner's insurance can help cover some storm damage
Usually, hail and wind damage are covered under homeowner’s insurance. But it’s good to check with your agent because all policies are different.
AUSTIN, Texas — After the most recent storms brought rain, high winds and hail, some Central Texans may have damage to their homes.
Hail damage spikes from March through June in Texas, according to a release from State Farm. Hail often causes damage to a home’s roofing and siding, which can result in leaks.
The good news is, here in Texas, hail is usually covered in homeowners insurance policies.
“You have policies that cover that hail image,” said Brent Allen, an insurance agent with State Farm. “Some are different than others. Some have a depreciation schedule, which means that you wouldn’t necessarily get the whole roof covered.”
And with March known as a big hail month, knowing you’re fully covered can bring you peace of mind.
“Obviously, there are deductibles that apply to homeowner’s policies,” Allen said. “The most normal deductible is 1%. So, if your home has a $300,000 house that you insure, for $300,000, [the deductible] is going to be $3,000. So, just keep that in mind.”
Some other things homeowners insurance usually covers are tornadoes, hurricanes, fires and windstorms.
Thursday’s storms brought heavy winds and, with many trees already weakened from our recent winter freeze, it’s possible many trees and branches broke off and damaged homes.
However, some insurance companies won’t cover damage to a home if the tree that fell was unhealthy before the storm and the owner failed to maintain it. If a healthy tree fell, insurance will likely kick in.
With winds picking up again on Friday, Allen recommends trying to prevent additional damage from happening by removing what you can or tying things down. However, remember to always be safe when doing so.
“Don’t try to be Superman,” he said. “Don’t go out there and try to, you know, get on your roof yourself. Don’t go out there and try to protect your car from this tree falling. Let it happen. Everything’s going to be okay. That’s why you have insurance. Let us take care of it for you and help you through that process and just stay safe … Because stuff is just stuff.”
Everyone’s insurance policies are different, so contact your agent to ask them what yours covers.