Madison, WI—Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel is reminding Wisconsin residents to be prepared for severe weather season.
“Last year, many Wisconsin residents experienced devastating losses from severe storms,” said Commissioner Nickel. “Severe weather can come in many forms. Unfortunately, this year farmers in Northeast Wisconsin recently suffered significant property damage from the April blizzard. I encourage all Wisconsinites to evaluate their plans for safety and preparedness. Confirm your insurance policies are updated and provide you with adequate coverage – alleviating additional problems after a storm hits.”
Consumers should prepare ahead of time by making sure they have a comprehensive inventory of their personal property. See the Personal Property Home Inventory on OCI’s Web site at: oci.wi.gov/Documents/Consumers/PI-224.pdf.
Your policy review should include all insurance coverage, not just a homeowner’s policy. Reviewing auto insurance policies will help determine if you’re covered for storm damage to your vehicle. Consumers should also consider adding coverage for their living expenses if their homes become uninhabitable due to storm damage. Business owners should consider purchasing business interruption coverage to protect them if storm damage shuts down their business for an extended period of time.
Typical homeowner’s policies usually provide coverage for damage that is the result of severe weather such as damage from hail or high winds. An exception is that damage caused by flooding is typically not covered. For protection against floods, you must purchase a separate policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Check with your insurance agent or insurance company about signing up for NFIP protection.
Damage resulting from sewer backup and sump pump problems is also rarely covered in homeowner’s policies but may be added through endorsements. Endorsements are added to insurance policies in order to provide additional coverage to the homeowner’s policy. OCI encourages consumers to carefully review all endorsements before they are added to a policy.
Consumers should work with their insurance agent to ensure their level of protection will result in adequate financial protection from losses resulting from severe storms and the coverage in place is suitable for the risks they face.
After a Storm Hits
Consider the following steps if your home is damaged by a storm:
- Notify your insurance agent or insurance company as soon as possible to begin the insurance claim process.
- Take photographs of the damage for the insurance company.
- Separate damaged items from undamaged items.
- Make any necessary repairs protecting yourself from further loss or damage as soon as it is safe.
- Make a list of damaged items and keep all receipts that document the cost of the repairs or the replacement of damaged items.
- Do not throw away furniture or expensive items damaged by the storm. Your insurance adjuster will want to see these.
Source: For more information, contact Elizabeth Hizmi, Public Information Officer, (608) 267-9460 or elizabeth.hizmi@wisconsin.gov.