What to Do if Your House Is Damaged by a Storm
Make the house safe from further damage, document everything, then call your insurer to start a claim before repairs begin.
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Wind and hail coverage
Most standard policies cover wind and hail damage to the house and other structures, like a detached garage, under dwelling and other structures coverage. Your declarations page shows the limits. Fallen trees are usually covered if they damage the house, even without a separate removal clause.
Hurricane or wind deductible
In storm-prone states, a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible may apply instead of your usual one, often a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar amount. A 2 percent deductible on a $300,000 dwelling limit means $6,000 before the policy pays. Your declarations page states which applies.
Flood is separate
Water that rises from outside, from storm surge or a swollen creek, is not covered by a standard homeowners policy. That requires a separate flood policy. Wind-driven rain that gets in through a hole the wind made is usually treated as wind damage, not flood.
Timing and proof
Insurers look closely at when damage happened and whether it was storm-caused or pre-existing. Photos taken right after the storm, dated receipts for temporary repairs, and a prompt call to start the claim all support the case that the damage is covered.
A hurricane or wind deductible set as a percentage of the dwelling limit can run into thousands before the policy pays anything, and that figure is fixed to the limit you chose when the policy was written. If rebuilding costs have risen since then, or another insurer prices that deductible differently, comparing current quotes shows where the gap actually sits.
How storm claims actually get handled
After the claim is filed, an adjuster is assigned to look at the damage, either in person or through photos and a video call, depending on how the insurer works and how many claims are coming in from the same storm. In a widespread event, this can take longer than usual because the same adjusters are covering a whole region. Having your own photos, a written list of damaged items, and any contractor estimates ready speeds this along, since the adjuster is comparing what they find to what you reported.
The adjuster's estimate becomes the basis for what the insurer pays, but it is not always the final word. If a contractor's estimate comes in higher, for reasons like matching materials or code requirements that apply only once a certain percentage of a roof is replaced, that difference can be raised with the insurer. Some policies include coverage for the added cost of meeting current building codes during repair, separate from the basic dwelling limit, and the declarations page or policy booklet says whether that applies.
Payment for dwelling damage often comes in stages, especially on larger claims. An initial payment covers the actual cash value of the damage, meaning the cost to repair minus depreciation for the roof or siding's age, and a second payment covers the remaining amount once repairs are finished and receipts are submitted, if the policy carries replacement cost coverage rather than actual cash value only. That distinction is worth checking before repairs start, since it affects how much cash is needed upfront.
Temporary repairs to stop further damage, like a tarp over a hole in the roof or boarding up a broken window, are generally reimbursed as part of the claim, so keeping receipts matters even for small purchases. If the house is unlivable during repairs, additional living expenses coverage pays for a hotel or rental and extra costs like meals, up to the limit on the policy. That limit and how long it lasts are both set out in the declarations page, and it is worth confirming early in the process rather than assuming it covers everything for as long as repairs take.
What happens between filing the claim and getting paid
After the claim is filed, an adjuster gets assigned to look at the damage, either in person or through photos and a video call, depending on how the insurer works and how many claims are coming in from the same storm. In a widespread event, this can take longer than usual because the same adjusters are covering a whole region. Having your own photos, a written list of damaged items, and any contractor estimates ready speeds this along, since the adjuster is comparing what they find to what you reported.
The adjuster's estimate becomes the basis for what the insurer pays, but it is not always the final word. If a contractor's estimate comes in higher, for reasons like matching materials or code requirements that apply only once a certain percentage of a roof is replaced, that difference can be raised with the insurer. Some policies include coverage for the added cost of meeting current building codes during repair, separate from the basic dwelling limit, and the declarations page or policy booklet says whether that applies.
Payment for dwelling damage often comes in stages on larger claims. An initial payment covers the actual cash value of the damage, meaning the cost to repair minus depreciation for the roof or siding's age. A second payment covers the remaining amount once repairs are finished and receipts are submitted, if the policy carries replacement cost coverage rather than actual cash value only. That distinction is worth checking before repairs start, since it affects how much cash is needed upfront.
Temporary repairs to stop further damage, like a tarp over a hole in the roof or boarding up a broken window, are generally reimbursed as part of the claim, so keeping receipts matters even for small purchases. If the house is unlivable during repairs, additional living expenses coverage pays for a hotel or rental and extra costs like meals, up to the limit on the policy. That limit and how long it lasts are both set out on the declarations page, and it is worth confirming early rather than assuming it covers everything for as long as repairs take.
Before the next storm
Find your declarations page and check which deductible applies to wind or hurricane damage, and whether it's a flat dollar amount or a percentage of your dwelling limit. That number matters more than the premium when a storm actually hits.
