Natural disasters can wreak havoc on a home – or destroy it entirely. Homeowner’s insurance provides financial protection against covered damages to your home and personal belongings, and liability for injuries to others in certain circumstances. No home insurance policy covers all natural disasters. It is important to understand the type of policy you have and which disasters it covers.

What Does Standard Homeowners Insurance Cover?

Standard home insurance policies cover a range of disasters:

HO-1

The most basic type of homeowners insurance is an HO-1 policy, which limits coverage to the home itself, appliances, and attached structures, for damage caused by:

• Fire
• Lightning
• Windstorms and hail
• Aircraft or vehicles
• Smoke
• Vandalism
• Theft
• Volcanic eruptions

HO-2

HO-2 policies, known as broad form homeowners insurance, cover personal belongings, as well as everything covered by HO-1 policies. In addition to the perils listed above, HO-2 policies typically cover:

• Falling objects
• Weight of snow, ice, or sleet
• Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or fire-protection sprinkler systems, or household appliances
• Freezing of plumbing, heating, air conditioning, household appliances, or automatic fire-protection sprinkler systems
• Sudden tearing apart, cracking, bulging, or burning of steam or hot water heating systems, or air conditioning or automatic fire protection systems
• Sudden, accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current

HO-3

HO-3 is the most standard type of homeowners insurance. This type of policy covers everything covered by an HO-2 policy, plus additional living expenses and medical payments, and some liability coverage. These are usually open peril policies. This means the structure of the home is covered for any type of damage, except exclusions named in the policy. Typically, personal belongings are only covered for named perils with an HO-3 policy.

What Disasters Are Not Covered by Home Insurance?

A few natural disasters are not covered by homeowners insurance, including the following:

• Floods: All types of homeowners insurance exclude coverage for floods. If you live in a flood zone, you can purchase separate flood insurance through an agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The cost of flood insurance varies from state to state and according to how high the flood risk is based on the location of your home.
• Earthquakes: Like floods, earthquakes are not covered under homeowners insurance policies. However, most insurers offer an earthquake endorsement you can add to your policy for an additional cost. Homes in nearly half the states in the U.S. are at risk for earthquake damage.
• Tsunamis: These giant waves are typically caused by underwater volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. Although tsunamis are not a covered peril under homeowners policies, flood insurance can cover the damage they cause.
• Nuclear event: A nuclear event or explosion could damage your home. Nuclear plants are required to carry liability coverage to protect the public in case of property damage or injury.

Your home is one of your largest financial investments. It is important to have the right homeowners insurance to protect that investment. Our friendly agent will be happy to help ensure you have the coverage you need.

There is nothing like a campfire to create a cozy atmosphere when friends and family get together under the stars. A fire draws the gaze and lets you keep warm while socializing in the cool of the evening. A campfire can even be used to cook a meal if you have the right type of fire and accessories. But where there is fire, there is extreme heat. It is important to take precautions to keep everyone safe around a backyard campfire.

Risk of Injury With Backyard Fire Pits

The popularity of backyard fire pits is on the rise, and so is the risk of injury, particularly for children. Fire pits and outdoor heaters injured 5,300 or more people who were treated in emergency rooms in a recent year, as reported by NBC News. Approximately 25% of the people injured were under the age of five. Many burn injuries occur the day after a backyard campfire and are caused by still hot coals.

Safety Tips for Backyard Campfires

Backyard campfires are fun, but they come with a risk of injury. The following tips can help minimize the risk for your family and guests:

• Check with local authorities to make sure burning is allowed: Rules can change depending on wind, lack of precipitation, and other factors.
• Build your fire in a safe area: It should be in an enclosed area, such as a fire pit or bowl, where the fire can be contained. The spot you choose for your campfire should be in the open, away from structures and trees. Make sure no tree branches are overhanging the fire, as flying sparks could set a tree on fire.
• Clear the fire pit area: Clean out any fallen leaves or debris before you start a campfire. Remove old ashes from the pit, and make sure you have fire extinguishing supplies nearby.
• Use only the right fuel for your fire pit: If it is designed to burn wood, use seasoned, dry wood, which burns hotter and cleaner. Do not burn old pieces of furniture or anything painted, stained, or chemically treated. Start small and build your fire up gradually. Avoid using lighter fluid to start a fire, as this can lead to dangerous flare-ups.
• Do not take your eyes off young children while a fire is burning: Instruct them to stay 10 feet back from the fire and remind them of all the safety rules. It takes only a few seconds for a serious accident to occur.
• Extinguish the fire properly when the night is over: Check manufacturer guidelines and ensure you have all the necessary tools. All embers should be out and should not be emanating heat. A campfire that is still smoldering has the potential to spark and start a fire on your property. Children should be supervised until the temperature returns to normal.

It is important to have homeowners insurance in case someone is injured through a campfire or otherwise on your property. Our knowledgeable agent can help you find a policy that suits your needs at the best available rates.

We rely on electricity to stay warm, keep our homes illuminated, cook, heat or pump water, and to keep us entertained on our TVs and other devices. A power outage can be a short-term annoyance or last for days. It is worthwhile, with weather systems changing, to have a plan in place, so your family stays safe in a lengthy power outage.

Keep a Supply of Ready-to-Eat Food and Drink on Hand
The last thing you need is to run out of food and drink during a power outage. Have a supply of canned foods, protein bars, dried fruit, peanut or other nut butters, canned juices, cereal and non-perishable milk or non-dairy milk, and plenty of water in your home that you are prepared.

Create an Emergency Kit
Every home should have an emergency kit that is fully equipped with everything you may need if a lengthy power outage occurs. Supply it with a first aid kit, water purifying tablets, flashlights, space blankets, a battery-operated radio, batteries, a battery-operated cell phone charger, and extra prescription medications that may be needed in an emergency.

Equip Your Home with a Safe Power Generator if Possible
You can keep your basic home systems functioning if you have a home generator, but ensure it is out-of-doors and if it is a gas generator, so no exhaust fumes enter your home. If a gas generator, keep a safe supply of fuel in an area inaccessible to children and away from any source of heat.

Check on Your Neighbors
It is important that you help your neighbors, should they need it, particularly the elderly. Check on them and provide any help needed, such as contacting their relatives, providing food, or other assistance. When a long-term power outage occurs, the community needs to pull together.

Stay Together
Keep your family together if you plan to venture out. Losing track of a family member can be dangerous and extremely stressful. If your home is cold due to a power outage, staying close together will also help you stay warm.

Surviving a Heatwave
A power outage during a heatwave is particularly dangerous for everyone, particularly the elderly and babies. Prepare to leave your home if needed. Keep ice in your freezer and an ice chest so that if the power is out, some foods and critical medications can be kept cold. Apply bags of cold ice and water to the neck, head, and other body areas, and drink plenty of water. Find a local cooling station if possible. Keep your vehicle full of gas, rather than running it down to empty, as if a power outage occurs, you will be unable to fill it.

Power Outages and Your Insurance Coverage
Your insurance coverage can become an important matter if your home has been damaged due to a fire, flood, earthquake, storm, or other natural disasters. It is important that you understand the coverage you have, and that you and your family are protected in the event of a disaster that leads to a power outage or other challenging situation. Contact our local agency to speak with one of our team. We are happy to look over your policies and ensure you have everything you need to protect your home and family at the lowest rates.

The holidays are a time for celebration and getting together with family and friends. They can also mean a greater risk for your property if you are hosting parties or traveling away from home to other holiday celebrations. This is where your homeowners insurance policy comes in.

Common Holiday Homeowners Insurance Claims

Your homeowners policy will likely cover a range of holiday-related losses, including the following.

Property Damage and Injuries

Guests can get rowdy at holiday parties. This could result in damage to a neighbor’s or someone else’s property, or someone getting hurt. Homeowners insurance provides personal liability coverage in case you are held liable for property damage or personal injury.

Theft

If you travel over the holidays, leaving your house empty, burglars and thieves may see it as an opportunity. Your homeowners personal property insurance should cover the loss if something is stolen from your home, after your deductible is met. However, it is important to ensure you have adequate coverage. You may want to purchase a separate policy for high-value items, such as diamond jewelry or expensive paintings.

Fire

House fires are common during the holidays. Between 2014 and 2018, fire departments in the U.S. responded to an average of 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees each year, as stated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Cooking fires also increase during the holidays. Make sure you have enough homeowners insurance coverage to rebuild your home if it should burn to the ground.

Credit Card Theft

If your credit card is stolen over the holidays, your homeowners insurance may offer some protection. Most standard policies include approximately $500 in coverage for purchases made with a stolen credit card. Our agent can help you determine how much your policy will cover for credit card theft.

Types of Protection Provided By a Homeowners Policy

Most standard homeowners insurance policies include these types of coverage to protect you during the holidays:

• Dwelling: This coverage protects your living space and attached structures, such as a carport or garage. It should provide protection for damage caused by fire, lightning, sleet, snow, explosions, theft, or vandalism.
• Personal liability: This applies to incidents in which you are held liable for personal injury or property damage sustained on the premises by someone other than a member of your household, or caused by your child or pet.
• Medical: This coverage included in your homeowners policy pays for medical expenses of an injured guest, regardless of fault.
• Personal property: Personal property coverage protects you from loss of your home’s contents, including clothing, furniture, electronics, and appliances.
• Additional living expense: If a disaster such as a fire forces you to move to another residence temporarily, this coverage helps pay for your living expenses.

Certain risks to your property can increase substantially during the holiday season. These risks include (but are not limited to) fire, theft, injury to visitors, and damage to the property of others. Our agent can help ensure you have the homeowners insurance coverage you need to be fully protected.

More millennials are buying homes these days, as opposed to renting. By the end of 2018, this generation represented 45% of all new home mortgages, as stated in a Housing Wire article. One thing is certain, whether renting or purchasing a condo or a house, millennials need home insurance to protect them against damage to or loss of their property and against liability.

Renters Insurance

Your living space should be insured, whether you rent or own. Renters insurance covers loss or damage to your personal items in your rented space, due to a covered peril. How much coverage you need will depend on how many personal possessions you have and how valuable they are. Your deductible is also a factor – the higher the deductible, the lower your premiums are likely to be.

It is a good idea to create a personal property inventory, which may include photos, as a record of what you own. High-value items, such as an engagement ring, camera equipment, or a drone, need to go on a separate list, as they may be excluded from your general policy. You may need to purchase a personal property rider for such items.

Condo Insurance

Standard condo insurance is known as HO-6 insurance. It provides protection against covered perils for your condo unit. In addition, it provides personal liability protection and living expenses coverage, in case a covered event, such as a fire, makes your condo uninhabitable. This type of home insurance is also known as “walls-in” coverage because it protects individual units. The condominium association’s master policy covers the common areas of the building.

Before purchasing a condo insurance policy, it is a good idea to find out what is covered by the homeowners association or condo association’s master policy. This typically includes all common areas, including the exterior and roof of the building, the hallways, and the elevators. However, some types of master condo insurance policies are more comprehensive than others.

Condo insurance typically covers:

• The condo unit itself, including the walls and fixtures
• Personal property contained in the condo, such as electronics, furniture, and any moveable goods
• Loss of use: Costs of lodging and transportation if your unit has been made uninhabitable
• Personal liability: This covers legal costs and provides protection in case of lawsuits or claims made against you
• Loss assessment: Coverage for your individual share of condo association losses

Homeowners Insurance

If you are purchasing a home, you probably already know that homeowners insurance is not just a good thing to have but also required by lenders. In fact, your mortgage payments will likely have an amount tacked on that goes into escrow for your homeowners insurance premiums.

Homeowners insurance provides protection for your dwelling, your personal belongings, and other structures on your property. It also protects you from liability for injuries or damage to someone else’s property.

Whether you need renters insurance, condo insurance, or a homeowners insurance policy, our agent can help you find the coverage you need at the best available rates.