Natural disasters are devastating and often unexpected. It’s a horrible feeling to find out that your home insurance policy won’t help you rebuild after a disaster, which is why it’s a good idea to know what your policy covers in advance. Insurance policies can vary greatly in what they cover, so if you already have home insurance, it’s a good idea to contact your insurance company. If you don’t have a policy yet, get in contact with CO Insurance Specialist, which serves Wheat Ridge, CO, to find out what most policies cover and to learn if you can get special coverage for specific circumstances.

Is Fire Covered?

Most policies will pay out to repair or replace anything that’s been damaged inside your residence by smoke, flames, ash, soot, and water, according to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Your insurance company will likely ask for an inventory of items, as they’re only required to pay for personal property that you can prove you owned at the time of the disaster. This is why it’s a good idea to make an inventory of your belongings, and this advice applies to any type of natural disaster preparation.

Are Floods Covered?

If there’s water damage from a broken pipe, your policy will likely pay for the damages. However, homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flood losses. For protection against flood damage, you need to get flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

Are Natural Disasters Such as Tornados, Earthquakes, and Hail Covered?

Earthquake damage is usually not covered under a standard policy; you’ll have to add on earthquake coverage separately. Tornado damage is usually covered by a standard home insurance policy. Damage from hail storms and windstorms are usually also covered under a standard policy, so you probably don’t have to purchase additional coverage.

There are many other scenarios that could occur, such as landslides, nuclear accidents, war, sinkholes, and drone crashes. If you have specific concerns you want to address, call CO Insurance Specialist, which serves Wheat Ridge, CO, for more information.