Navigating insurance coverage during natural disasters: A breakdown of what's covered for your home, car, and more
Hurricane Damage Coverage: Identifying Insurance Policies for Specific Damages
Stay informed about the insurance that covers which damages when extreme weather strikes. Here's an easy-to-understand guide to help you navigate the process.
When disaster strikes and your property suffers damage, it's crucial to know which insurance will cover what. If you don't, you might miss out on important payouts meant to help you recover.
Let's break it down with guidance from the German Association of Insurers (GDV).
1. Severe winds break tiles, windows, or chimneys:
If storms or falling trees damage your house, the building insurance will cover the repair costs. This extends to additional damage like damp walls or floors resulting from leaks caused by broken windows or damaged roofs.
2. Rain seeps into furniture or possessions:
When infiltrating moisture due to broken windows or damaged roofing harms your furniture, household items, or clothes, your household contents insurance is responsible. However, policyholders must take immediate action to prevent further damage — sealing windows and, if possible, moving items to safety.
3. Flooding damages the building and items:
In this case, you need the add-on module for elemental damage for either the household contents or building insurance. Regrettably, insurance only pays if the water enters due to overflowing waters, weather-related precipitation, or groundwater that reaches the earth's surface and enters the house via aboveground sources. If groundwater or precipitation enters the foundation from below, property owners usually have little chance.
4. Your vehicle sustains damage from flying objects or flooding:
Damage to your car resulting from falling branches or flooding is covered by partial or comprehensive car insurance. Those relying on car liability insurance without comprehensive protection (CASCO) are out of luck.
5. Flying debris from your property damages others:
If your garden furniture isn't properly anchored and causes harm to others, your private liability insurance will cover the costs. If you take sufficient measures to secure your furniture and it's still blown away, the building insurance and the injured party's health insurance are responsible.
6. Personal injuries from flying debris:
In such cases, your health insurance takes care of the costs. If you incur permanent damage, your private accident insurance comes into play (provided you have this coverage).
- Real Estate
- Apartment
- Tenant
- Landlord
- Rent
- Insurance
- Stiftung Warentest
- Finanztest
- Storm
- Flood
- Natural Disasters
Sources:
- ntv.de
- awi/dpa
- [1] Investopedia. (2022). What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover? [online] Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/homeownerspolicy.asp
- [2] National Flood Insurance Program. (2022). About the NFIP. [online] Available at: https://www.floodsmart.gov/about-us/
- [3] Insurance Information Institute. (2022). Homeowners insurance coverage for wind damage. [online] Available at: https://www.iii.org/article/homeowners-insurance-coverage-for-wind-damage
- [4] DMV.org. (2022). Comprehensive Car Insurance. [online] Available at: https://www.dmv.org/insurance/comprehensive-car-insurance.php
- [5] FEMA. (2022). National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System Reduces Flood Insurance Rates. [online] Available at: https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-programs-community-rating-system-reduces-flood-insurance-rates
- Tenants renting apartments must ensure they understand their lease agreements and the insurance policies of their landlords, as both parties have responsibilities for building maintenance and contents insurance during times of natural disasters such as storms and floods.
- For environmental-science students studying climate-change, researching and analyzing the impact of extreme weather events on housing structures and personal-finance management can provide valuable insights for future mitigation strategies and policy recommendations.
- Stiftung Warentest, an independent consumer testing organization in Germany, offers extensive evaluations and recommendations on different insurance policies, helping individuals make informed decisions when it comes to choosing the best coverage for their buildings, personal belongings, and vehicles during natural disasters.
- As the science behind weather-forecasting improves, landlords, tenants, and homeowners can better prepare for potential natural disasters and take measures to minimize losses and damages to their properties, such as securing heavy objects, sealing windows, and purchasing appropriate insurance coverage.
