Are You Covered For The Next Disaster?

Make sure you have the right insurance to protect you from nature’s wrath.

- Sandra Block

Federal weather forecasts have predicted a “near normal” number of hurricanes for the season that ends November 30. That’s small consolation, though, if you find yourself in the path of one of the nine to 15 named storms predicted to form in the Atlantic this year. And elsewhere in the U.S., other types of natural disasters, from wildfires to floods, continue to inflict billions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses.

You can’t control Mother Nature, but you can protect your property. Start by understanding what your homeowners insurance will—and won’t—cover.

Damage caused by wind, wind-driven rain, and water that comes in your home through the roof, windows or doors is usually covered by your homeowners insurance policy. But your policy won’t cover water that comes from the ground up. For that, you need flood insurance. You should consider purchasing this insurance even if you don’t live in a designated flood zone, says Mark Hanna, of the Insurance Council of Texas.