Home Insurance for Extreme Weather & Unexpected Disasters: Everything You Need to Know
While many homeowners never experience an unexpected disaster that damages their home, some are not that lucky. These unexpected events can include natural disasters, internal water damage, sewer issues, etc. Getting the right home insurance in Ontario is the best way to safeguard your property, but not all extreme weather conditions and unexpected disasters are covered under home insurance.
As a homeowner, you should understand what a typical home insurance policy covers. Read on to learn everything you need to know.
What are unexpected events?
Unexpected events or perils are terms used for sudden accidents leading to damage to property. These can include minor internal or external damage to significant damage from natural disasters. While home insurance policies typically cover some form of minor damage and some natural disasters, there are some situations that standard home insurance in Ontario cannot cover. In such cases, you can get add-ons for enhanced coverage for your home.
Home insurance policies typically offer coverage for the following unexpected events:
- Fire damage, including damage from wildfires
- Damage from ice or hail
- Wind-related extreme weather conditions such as tornadoes, storms, hurricanes
- Theft and vandalism
- Internal water damage such as leaks from appliances or burst pipes
Home insurance in Ontario generally does not cover:
- Earthquakes
- Landslides
- Floods
- Sewer backup
While these unexpected events and natural disasters are not covered, you can get specific add-ons to your home insurance in Ontario that will provide some form of coverage for these unexpected events.
At James Campbell Insurance, we offer Basic/Standard, Broad, and Comprehensive policies. We also provide certain add-ons, such as coverage for damage from earthquakes, floods, and other major types of storm episodes.
Earthquake Insurance Coverage
When it comes to coverage for damage from earthquakes, there are a few things that you need to know. Adding earthquake insurance will cover your home for damage caused by shaking of the earth.
The extent of coverage depends on the legislation in your province. The cost for these add-ons depends on factors such as your residential location, the age of the home, the coverage limit, and the deductible.
On the other hand, home insurance in Ontario does not cover damage from a tsunami or tidal waves caused by an earthquake. Also, if the value of your land declines because of an earthquake, the insurance policy will not cover it.
Flood Insurance Coverage
Generally, flooding is not covered under a typical home insurance policy. However, some policies can add overland flood insurance, inland flood insurance, or enhanced water damage coverage. In some cases, if a falling object damages the house, letting flood water in, you may be covered. With add-ons, you can get coverage for some level of flood damage.
Unfortunately, home insurance policies do not cover damage caused by flooding from coastal waters, salt water, tsunamis, tidal waves, storm surges, rising water tables, or sewer backups.
Therefore, when getting flood damage coverage as part of your home insurance in Ontario, check with your insurance provider for details on the type of coverage.
Sewer Backup Insurance Coverage
Sewer backup is another unexpected event not covered under standard home insurance policies but can be covered with an add-on. Extreme weather conditions can sometimes put extra stress on the sewage systems, which can cause a backup.
It leads to internal water damage but with an extra level of problems. Sewage water and waste come with health risks, so they are not as easy to repair as mopping or using a bucket. Sewer backup insurance coverage includes cleaning the home, repairing damaged areas, and replacing and restoring damaged possessions.
In some cases, insurance providers will ask to install a backwater valve as a preventive measure.
Do you need home insurance for unexpected events?
Having home insurance is a must. Getting the basics covered allows you to rest easy and prevents a big hole in your pocket. However, you should also consider whether you need extra coverage when getting home insurance in Ontario. For this, you will need to assess your level of risk, which depends on various factors, most importantly, the location.
Your house could be situated in an area that is prone to wildfires. Some regions across Canada are at higher risk of experiencing earthquakes and floods. Mountainous regions can experience landslides and other such natural disasters. These situations call for add-ons on top of the standard insurance coverage.
Another factor to consider is the age of your home. Older homes may be at higher risk of getting damaged from disasters, and getting added coverage would be a good idea.
Preventative Measures You Can Take
As a homeowner, you can proactively take steps to prevent or lower the damage caused by unexpected events. As mentioned earlier, installing a sewer backwater valve is one of the preventive measures. It will prevent sewer waste from flowing into the house.
Downspouts are pipes that move water from the gutter to the ground and should be disconnected from the sewer system. Installing a more robust garage door can reduce damage from winds and hurricanes. Hurricane straps on the roof and earthquake straps on the water heater are also excellent preventive measures.
Home Insurance For Unexpected Events: Final Thoughts
You may be one of the lucky homeowners who never experienced an unexpected event, but you don’t want to be the homeowner who wasn’t prepared. Even if you live in an area with minimal risk of natural disasters, there are preventive measures that you should be taking to safeguard your home.
However, the primary step is to understand home insurance in Ontario and all that is covered regarding extreme weather and unexpected disasters.
For more home insurance and coverage information, call James Campbell Insurance at 1-833-459-1065 or contact us here.