Tennessee Tornado Insurance
Find the right tornado insurance policy for you.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
Tornadoes are one of Mother Nature's most violent outbursts. Within seconds, a tornado can destroy an entire town. While the state of Tennessee doesn't officially lie in "Tornado Alley," it does lie in the less known "Dixie Alley." Dixie Alley includes the southeastern parts of the United States, spanning upper Tennessee. While Tornado Alley is known for its number of tornadoes, Dixie Alley has about the same number of tornadoes ranked F-3 or higher.
To protect your assets from this type of tornado destruction, you should have adequate tornado insurance coverage for all your assets. This coverage is available through various types of insurance, e.g., homeowners and car insurance. Read the information below to find out more about getting quotes for this important coverage.
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Tennessee Tornado Facts
- There have been more than 400 tornado deaths in Tennessee.
- The worst Tennessee tornado occurred in Sumner County and traveled into Kentucky in March 1925. The F4 tornado, termed the "Liberty Tornado," covered 60 miles and killed 39 people.
- Tornadoes occur most commonly in Tennessee during March, April, and May.
- During the 1998 tornado outbreak, 63 tornadoes occurred, including two F5 tornadoes (one confirmed), killing seven people in the state and causing more than $130 million in damage.
- During previous years, there were 73 tornadoes, resulting in six deaths and more than $630 million in damage.
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What Is Tornado Insurance in Tennessee?
If you have homeowners insurance in TN, you most likely have coverage for tornadoes. You should review your policy to be sure, as some insurance companies require you to specifically purchase coverage for tornado damage. When reviewing your policy, make sure that the coverages on the following policies are sufficient:
- Structural coverage: When looking at your structural coverage, consider the financial impact of a complete loss of your home. Would you have enough coverage to rebuild? If not, it's time to raise your coverage amounts to reflect the value of your home.
- Contents coverage: From clothing to furniture, you'll want to make sure that the coverage limit is high enough to replace all your belongings. Typically, there are two forms of reimbursement available in a contents coverage policy: actual value coverage and replacement value coverage. Actual value coverage takes depreciation into account, whereas replacement value coverage does not.
Most insurance companies and real estate professionals recommend that you review your insurance policies and limits every three years to make sure that the limits and coverage are sufficient for any life changes. Additionally, if you own any high-value items, such as original artwork or jewelry, you may need additional riders to get coverage on those items.
What About Insuring Cars/Boats/RVs in TN?
We've all seen pictures of tornado damage: cars in trees and boats in houses. Unless you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicles, boats, and RVs, if a tornado occurs, you are going to be paying out of pocket to repair/remove your assets. Comprehensive coverage, typically required by lenders, covers damage from incidents such as fire, wind, rain, theft, and arson. Many people neglect to carry this coverage on their personal assets or only carry the legal minimum. Unfortunately, this leaves the owner in a financial crunch if a disaster occurs. Having enough coverage to protect you from tornado damage and other incidents is an important part of being a responsible owner.
What Determines Tornado Insurance Quotes?
When it comes to getting coverage for tornado-related damage to your assets, the price depends on a variety of factors. When you're shopping for quotes on tornado insurance in TN, make sure you have the following information available:
- Type of asset
- Age of asset
- Location of asset
- Value of asset
- Desired coverage limits
- Desired deductibles
- History of claims
Insurance companies use all the above factors, plus more, depending on the asset, to determine your quotes tornado insurance.
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Are There Discounts Available on Tornado Insurance in Tennessee?
There are usually many discounts available on insurance policies, but your individual situation will dictate which discounts you are eligible for. The following is a list of some of the most common insurance discounts available:
- New customer discount
- Loyal customer discount
- Good driver discount
- Claims-free discount
- Professional/Industry affiliation discount
- Paid-in-full discount
Each insurance company offers its customers different discounts, so be sure to ask about any discounts you may qualify for.
How To Obtain Tornado Insurance in Tennessee
When it comes to protecting yourself and your assets from tornado damage, it's important to get the right coverage for your individual situation. An agent is always available to discuss policy options, suggest discounts and even help you file a claim.
Find an agent near you for quote recommendations and the right coverage.