What Is Windstorm Insurance?

Wind damage accounts for some of the most common claims filed by both homeowners and business owners. To protect yourself against financial losses after property damage caused by wind, gales, and hail, consider getting windstorm insurance. Having windstorm coverage can help you pay to repair your property if it gets damaged by a gusty natural disaster.

Luckily, a local independent insurance agent can help you find the right windstorm insurance. They'll get you set up with the ideal amount of coverage for your home or business. But first, here's more about windstorm insurance, what it covers, and when it's necessary.

What Is Windstorm Insurance?

Windstorm insurance is designed to protect against losses caused by windstorm damage to your home or business. While homeowners insurance and business insurance policies offer protection from wind and hail damage, certain types of disasters may be excluded from coverage, including hurricanes and cyclones. If you live in an area that's prone to wind-related natural disasters, you may be required to add an endorsement to your home insurance policy or business insurance.

In many cases, residents of Midwestern and coastal states are required to purchase a separate policy to have windstorm coverage. In areas considered high-risk for intense windstorms, certain policies may even exclude wind coverage, including a homeowners insurance policy. Mortgage lenders in these areas often require residents to have separate windstorm insurance.

What Does Windstorm Insurance Cover?

Windstorm insurance coverage can provide reimbursement for damage and destruction to your home's structure or dwelling and the contents inside it. It can also cover detached structures like sheds and garages. Dwelling coverage and contents coverage are standard protections found in the property insurance section of a homeowners policy or business policy as well. Windstorm insurance can cover damage caused by the following disasters:

Keep in mind that a windstorm policy won't cover lightning damage, water damage, or resulting fire damage from a thunderstorm. The policy will only cover the wind and hail peril portion of a thunderstorm.

What's Not Covered by Windstorm Insurance?

Windstorm insurance is only designed to cover wind and hail damage to property. It typically doesn't cover any of the following disasters:

Your windstorm policy only covers wind and hail aspects of a storm. Your home insurance provides coverage for various types of water damage, but typically not from sources of natural flooding, such as hurricanes and heavy rainfall. You'd need a separate flood insurance policy to cover natural flooding disasters.

What's the Difference Between Windstorm Insurance and Hurricane Insurance?

Windstorm insurance is sometimes referred to as hurricane insurance, but that's technically incorrect. Windstorm insurance doesn't cover the water damage aspect of hurricanes, so it can't exactly be a hurricane insurance policy. Hurricane insurance isn't really a standard insurance industry term, but some insurance companies may offer it as a combination of windstorm insurance and flood insurance.

How to Get Windstorm Insurance

If you live anywhere in the country that's not especially prone to wind-related disasters, you likely have enough coverage for wind and hail under your home insurance policy already. However, if you live along the coast or in the Midwest, you might be required to have separate windstorm coverage. In such a case, you can get coverage from a private insurer. An independent insurance agent can also assist you in getting coverage.

Is Windstorm Insurance Required?

You might be required to have separate windstorm insurance if you live in an area that's considered to be at high risk for wind-related disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and cyclones. Mortgage lenders often require coverage for policyholders who live in these areas. 

It's not wise to skip windstorm insurance if you live somewhere that's prone to these disasters. Doing so could result in catastrophic losses that you're unable to cover out of your own pocket following a major storm.

States with Windstorm Insurance Requirements

Currently, 19 states have at least some form of windstorm insurance requirements, as well as Washington, D.C. These states include the following:

If you live in one of these areas, be sure to ask your independent insurance agent about the windstorm insurance requirements near you.

Is Windstorm Insurance Expensive?

The cost of a windstorm insurance policy can vary based on your location and a few other factors. In areas with a high frequency of claims due to wind-related natural disasters, you can expect coverage rates to be higher. 

Windstorms offer a potential for significant property damage, which means these policies can be a huge risk for insurance companies to underwrite. As such, you may find windstorm insurance to be expensive, but an independent insurance agent can help you find the most affordable coverage in your area.

An Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You Get Windstorm Insurance

If you need windstorm insurance, no one's better equipped to help than a local independent insurance agent. These agents have access to multiple insurance companies, so they're free to shop and compare policies and rates for you. They'll get you set up with a policy that includes the best blend of coverage and cost. And down the road, your agent can help you file claims and update your coverage as necessary.