Protecting Your Property from Hail, Storm, and Wind Damage

In Pennsylvania, the weather can pose a huge threat to your home and property. Severe thunderstorms, along with wind, rain, and hail can hurt your windows, cars, roof, and more! A combination of prep and action before a thunderstorm will help to protect your home, your business, or any other property you own. Of these, most infrequent, but also most likely to damage, is hail. If you are worried about weather-related damage to your home, vehicle, or other property, Ebensburg Insurance is here to help. We provide home & property insurance that might fit with your lifestyle. 

How to Prepare for Hail

The first thing you should do when preparing for a hail storm is move all belongings you are concerned about inside or under cover. If you have a garage, be sure to get your vehicle into it before the storm begins. Making sure that your property is protected is the first step in prepping for a big storm. If you do not have a garage, consider using another means to cover your vehicle and belongings. By making sure you are prepared for the storm before it comes, you decrease the chance that you will even need insurance in the first place. However, being prepared for everything is not an easy thing to do, so let’s jump into what happens if you do end up needing insurance. 

What Type of Damage is Usually Covered Under Homeowner’s Insurance?

A standard home insurance plan will usually cover any hail damage that accumulates after your deductible is paid. One of the most common damages to roofs and vehicles is hail. Along with hail, is snow and ice. The next type of damage comes from the wind in all of its forms; tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. Usually, standard plans cover damage from high winds, especially from storms or tornadoes. However, more often than with hail, your policy may exclude or reduce the coverage for wind damage. Because of this, it is important to pay attention to what your plan covers and under what circumstances things are covered. 

Different Deductibles

Sometimes, homeowners policies will have a higher deductible for windstorm and hail damage. This may be based on a certain percentage of your home’s value. If you are wondering what is covered in your policy or if you have different deductibles, make sure to ask your insurance provider or read your policy through carefully. 

Which Kinds of Damage Are Not Covered?

Usually, there are a few types of weather damage that are not covered by an umbrella home insurance policy. One of these is flood damage. Usually, you need specialized flood insurance that can be purchased separately or added to your policy. Another event that usually isn’t covered is earthquakes. In states that are more susceptible to earthquakes, there is usually some kind of special coverage for these weather events. 

Protecting Your Property From Severe Weather Events

Severe and damaging weather are inevitable. In Pennsylvania, we receive a lot of rain, snow, ice, and hail. As we have stated above, the most important thing to do is to check your policy and be knowledgeable about what is covered in it. It is important if you are susceptible to these weather events to be proactive about getting insurance. A lot of times, insurers will not offer severe weather coverage policies if there is an impending storm. Once you have insurance, if your home takes on damage, contact your provider and start the process as soon as possible. If you are looking to protect your home from severe weather with insurance, contact the team at Ebensburg Insurance today by giving us a call at 814-472-9557.