When a Tornado Hits: What Wisconsin Homeowners Should Know About Insurance

 

When a Tornado Hits: What Wisconsin Homeowners Should Know About Insurance

The storm left behind significant damage to homes, businesses, trees, vehicles and infrastructure throughout the area.

Weeks later, many residents are still dealing with repairs, cleanup and the process of putting their lives back together. Events like this are a sobering reminder that severe weather can affect Wisconsin communities in a matter of minutes.

For homeowners, it also raises an important question:

What happens to your insurance when a tornado damages your home?

What Does Homeowners Insurance Typically Cover After a Tornado?

Tornado damage is generally considered wind damage, which is typically covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy.

That can include damage to the structure of your home, depending on the terms and limits of your policy. Damage to roofs, siding, windows, garages and other insured structures may be covered when caused by a covered tornado event.

Personal belongings inside the home can also be covered when damaged by a covered loss.

However, every policy is different. Coverage limits, deductibles and exclusions can affect how much protection you ultimately have after a loss.

That's why understanding your policy before a tornado happens is so important.

Your Roof May Not Be the Only Thing at Risk

When people think about tornado damage, they often picture a destroyed roof or fallen tree.

But a tornado can cause damage throughout an entire property.

High winds can send debris through windows, damage siding, destroy fences, damage detached garages and tear apart sheds or other structures. Trees can fall onto homes, vehicles and other property.

The severity of the damage can vary dramatically from one property to the next, even when the homes are only a few hundred feet apart.

What About Your Vehicles?

Tornadoes don't discriminate between your home and the vehicles sitting in your driveway.

Vehicles can be damaged by falling trees, flying debris, hail, broken glass and other objects during a severe storm.

This is where understanding your auto coverage becomes important.

Comprehensive coverage generally provides protection for damage to a vehicle caused by events other than a collision, which can include things such as falling objects, wind and hail.

Your deductible and specific policy terms will determine how a particular loss is handled.

What Should You Do After a Tornado?

The first priority after a tornado is always safety.

Once authorities determine that it is safe to return to the property, documenting the damage can be extremely helpful. Take photographs and videos of damaged areas before making major repairs or removing damaged property, when it is safe to do so.

If your roof has been damaged, temporary measures may be necessary to prevent additional damage from rain or other weather. Keep receipts and records of reasonable temporary repairs and expenses.

It is also important to report the claim as soon as reasonably possible and follow the instructions provided by your insurance company.

Don't Assume Everything Is Covered

One of the biggest lessons homeowners can take from a major storm is that having insurance doesn't necessarily mean every type of damage is automatically covered.

The cause of the damage matters.

For example, tornado-related wind damage may be handled differently from flooding caused by rising water. Likewise, certain property, structures or types of losses may have specific limits or exclusions depending on the policy.

Understanding these differences before a disaster occurs gives homeowners an opportunity to make informed decisions about their coverage rather than discovering potential gaps after a loss.

Why Reviewing Your Coverage Matters

A tornado can expose weaknesses in a homeowners policy that may have gone unnoticed for years.

Have you remodeled your home?

Added a deck or garage?

Finished your basement?

Purchased expensive furniture, electronics, jewelry or other belongings?

If your home and possessions have changed but your insurance hasn't been reviewed, your coverage may not accurately reflect what you own today.

It's also worth looking at your liability limits and deductibles to make sure they still make sense for your situation.

The Fox Valley Tornado Is a Reminder for All of Wisconsin

You don't have to live in Appleton, Menasha or Neenah to learn something from what happened.

Tornadoes can happen throughout Wisconsin, and the damage they leave behind can be devastating. The Fox Valley tornado is a reminder that severe weather isn't something that only happens somewhere else.

Preparing for a tornado doesn't mean expecting the worst every time the weather forecast calls for storms. It means taking the time to understand what you have, what your insurance covers and where there may be gaps.

Final Thoughts

The communities affected by the July 27 tornado have a long road ahead as homes and businesses are repaired and neighborhoods begin to rebuild.

For everyone else, it's an opportunity to take a closer look at our own homes and insurance coverage.

No one can prevent a tornado from forming. But homeowners can take steps to prepare for what happens afterward.

Knowing what your policy covers, keeping an inventory of your belongings, maintaining adequate limits and understanding your deductibles can make an already difficult situation a little easier to navigate.

Severe weather can change everything in a matter of minutes. Taking the time to prepare before it happens can make a meaningful difference afterward.