Putting The Power In The People’s Hands

What should I know about acts of God?

On Behalf of | Aug 17, 2022 | blog, Homeowner Claims

Acts of God are natural occurrences considered something out of human control. This includes storms and all the associated issues that come with them, such as floods.

Your homeowner’s insurance policy likely covers many acts of God, but Policygenius warns there are certain situations the insurer will not cover.

Storm damage

When a storm hits, it can bring high winds, hail, lightning and plenty of rain. Most homeowner’s insurance policies will cover the basic damage you may get from a storm. For example, if lightning strikes your home, hail damages the siding or high winds blow off part of the roof, your insurance will usually cover that.

Storms can pretty much include any natural disaster, such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Your policy will typically cover the basic damage from any storms because it is an issue beyond your control.

Exceptions

Insurers will exempt some issues from coverage. The biggest example associated with storms is flooding. While the flooding may occur because of excessive rain and it might be something you had no control over, making it seem like an act of God, insurers handle it differently.

Some companies also will not cover all wind damage from a hurricane. This is especially true in an area where a hurricane is a high risk.

To handle claims associated with these issues, you would have to have an additional policy or special coverage within your policy. To avoid issues when you need to make a claim, it is important to know what your policy covers. If you need additional protection against acts of God not covered by your base policy, make sure to discuss adding those on with your insurer.