Insurance Blog

High winds in the Puget Sound region have toppled trees and cut power to some, putting homes, businesses and vehicles at risk of wind damage.

While high-wind warnings remain in effect through today, it's important for homeowners, renters and business owners to be prepared and understand what is and what is not protected against damage caused by wind.

"Homeowners and Business Insurance policies cover wind damage to the structure of your home or business and your belongings," said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president. "Wind damage to vehicles from falling trees or other wind-driven objects and damage from landslide is covered if you have optional Comprehensive Coverage in your Auto Policy."

NW Insurance Council offers the following coverage facts for wind damage.

What's typically covered:
Your Home

• Damage to your home from wind and falling trees.
• Removal of trees that have fallen on buildings.
• Damaged personal property (both home and renters) inside a damaged building.
• If you can't occupy your primary residence due to storm damage, additional living expenses such as increased housing costs, extra food costs, furniture rental, and storage fees.
• Costs for reasonable temporary repairs to prevent further damage to the building or contents.

Your Vehicle

• Damage caused by wind and falling trees - if you purchased optional Comprehensive Coverage.
  Damage caused by landslide is also covered under the Comprehensive Coverage portion of your policy.

What's typically not covered:
Your Home

• Removal of trees that have fallen in your yard without damaging a building.
  Upgrades that weren't part of your home before the storm.
  Damage from landslides.

Your Vehicle

• Damage to your vehicle if you don't have Comprehensive Coverage.

What to do if your home or vehicle has been damaged:

• Document damage and take pictures.
• If safe to do so, make temporary repairs to prevent further loss from rain or wind. Save receipts for reimbursement.
• If your home or property is damaged by a windstorm, contact your insurance agent or company to file a claim immediately. Filing a claim quickly enables your insurance company to get to you sooner.
• Use only licensed, reputable building contractors and be sure they get the proper building permits.
  

What to avoid if your home or vehicle has been damaged:

• Avoid contractors who ask for a large deposit up front or bids that are remarkably low. This may indicate a willingness to cut corners or leave work unfinished.
• Don't pay a lot for temporary repairs unless authorized by your insurance adjuster. You could get stuck with the bill if the repairs are deemed excessive.
• Don't discard anything that is damaged until it has been examined by your adjuster. You could miss out on coverage for that item.

• Be disaster ready. Learn how you can protect your home and family from natural disasters that are common to your region. Visit www.GetReadyNW.org for more information.
• Maintain gutters. Remove leaves, pinecones, sticks and other debris from gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming, which can push melting water under the roofing and into your attic. You may also consider installing gutter guards. Available at most hardware stores, gutter guards are screens that prevent debris from entering the gutter and blocking drainpipes.
• Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break – damaging your home or car.
• Check insulation. Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. The water will re-freeze, allowing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof.
• Prevent frozen pipes. Wrap pipes with pipe insulation or heating tape and insulate unfinished rooms such as garages that have exposed pipes. Also, check for cracks and leaks. Repair them immediately to prevent much costlier repairs.
• Keep your house warm. The temperature in the home should be at least 65 degrees. The air inside the walls where pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A room temperature below 65 will not keep pipes from freezing.
• Get to know your plumbing. Learn how to shut off the water and know where your home’s pipes are located. If pipes freeze, you may be able to prevent the pipes from bursting by taking immediate action. Quickly shut off the water and direct your plumber to the problem.

• Ensure safe walkways by raking or sweeping leaves and other debris away from porches, decks, sidewalks and driveways.
• Trim low-hanging branches over walkways.
• Keep walkways well lit.
• Keep pets away from approaching trick-or-treaters. Some pets may get excited or hostile when encountering children dressed in costumes.
• Keep candles away from all combustible and heat-sensitive items. Make sure they are displayed on stable surfaces and out of reach of children and pets. Extinguish candles before leaving a room.