Which Natural Disasters Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in New York?

It’s important to know what natural disasters you’re most likely to experience in New York so you can find a home insurance policy with the right amount of coverage.
Written by Melanie Mergen
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Hurricanes, severe storms, and flooding are common natural disasters that can occur in
New York
. Luckily, a standard home insurance policy will cover much of the damage associated with these events, but some aspects, like floods and earthquakes, require additional insurance.
Some people make the mistake of assuming a home insurance policy will automatically offer coverage for any type of disaster that happens to their home, but unfortunately, that’s rarely the case. If you wait to consider insurance options until after a natural disaster, you might find yourself on the hook for expensive repair and replacement costs.
Before a natural disaster occurs, it’s important to know what ones your area is more likely to face, whether your insurance will cover you in that event, and how. That way, you can easily protect yourself, your home, and your belongings from the unexpected with the right insurance policy. To help you get started,
Jerry
, the
car
and home insurance comparison app, is here to break down what you should know about natural disasters and home insurance coverage in the Empire State.
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What is homeowners insurance—and what does it cover?  

Homeowners insurance covers your home and personal property against covered losses and damages. A standard policy will also typically include coverage for loss of use,
personal liability
, and medical payments if someone gets injured on your property. 
What a home insurance policy includes will vary depending on the provider, level of coverage, and what kinds of perils are covered. 

Levels of homeowners insurance coverage

HO-1: This is the cheapest and most minimal level of coverage when it comes to home insurance. An HO-1 home insurance policy will only cover your main structure—that is, your house. It won’t include additional structures like a detached garage or a greenhouse. 
The list of covered perils that your policy protects you against is more limited than other policies. This coverage also won’t include personal property, loss of use, personal liability, or medical payments.
If your mortgage lender is requiring you to get home insurance, an HO-1 policy often won’t meet their minimum coverage requirements.
HO-2: The next level up in home insurance is HO-2, which will offer coverage for both your home and your personal belongings. Like HO-1 policies, they’re not very common. 
HO-3: HO-3 policies are usually what people have in mind when they’re thinking of a standard homeowners insurance policy. An
HO-3 policy
covers your house, additional structures that might be on your property, and your personal belongings. You’ll also get personal liability, loss of use, and medical payment coverage.
Under an HO-3 policy, a house is covered under an open perils policy, while personal property is protected from named perils.
HO-5: The most extensive level of home insurance coverage is an HO-5 policy. It’s also the most expensive! An HO-5 policy will cover both your home and your personal belongings under an open perils policy. 
Okay, let’s review! Here’s how the various levels of home insurance coverage compare:
Policy
Coverage offered
Perils covered
HO-1
Main structure
Named perils
HO-2
Main structure, personal property, loss of use, personal liability, medical payments
Named perils
HO-3
Main structure, personal property, loss of use, personal liability, medical payments
Main structure: open perils; personal property: named perils
HO-5
Main structure, personal property, loss of use, liability, medical payments
Open perils

What perils are covered by homeowners insurance?

If your home or personal property is protected by a named perils policy, you’ll want to pay close attention to what’s included—and what isn’t. Read your policy’s language carefully to look for any potential exceptions or gaps in coverage you think you will need.
Named perils
can vary depending on your insurance company, policy, and coverage level, but common ones include:
  • Fire 
  • Smoke 
  • Hail
  • Lightning
  • Windstorms
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Damage from vehicles
  • Damage from aircrafts
  • Riot or civic commotions
  • Explosions
  • Falling objects (not usually covered by HO-1)
  • Weight of snow, ice, or sleet (not usually covered by HO-1)
  • Water overflow or discharge from plumbing (not usually covered by HO-1)
  • Water heater cracking (not usually covered by HO-1)
  • Damage from electrical current (not usually covered by HO-1)
  • Frozen pipes (not usually covered by HO-1)
Covered perils can account for a lot of the damage caused by natural disasters, but unfortunately, they might not always cover everything. For example, most standard home insurance policies won’t include coverage for floods or earthquakes—you usually have to get separate insurance policies for protection against them. 
Understanding what natural disasters your location is most likely to experience, as well as what your home insurance policy will and won’t cover, will help you plan to find the right amount of coverage in case you do ever need it.
Key Takeaway What your home insurance policy covers depends on your provider, your policy, and your level of coverage.

Does home insurance cover natural disasters in New York? 

Knowing what natural disasters are and aren’t covered by your home insurance will help you better prepare for making claims in the future. Severe storms, hurricanes, floods, and winter storms are all possibilities in New York.
Here’s a look at some of the most common natural disasters that occur in New York and how they might be covered under a standard home insurance policy.

Hurricanes

Some of the damage caused by hurricanes is often covered under a standard home insurance policy. Hurricanes aren’t commonly named as perils, but much of what they bring with them, like high winds and hail, usually are.
But another thing that frequently comes with hurricanes is flooding—like the extensive flooding that happened with Hurricane Ida in New York in September 2021. For that, you’ll need additional coverage.

Severe storms

New York can also experience severe storms, which like hurricanes, can bring with them lightning, high winds, hail, or even power surges.
Luckily, perils like these are often included in a standard home insurance policy. Still, since policies can vary, it’s a good idea to confirm that yours indeed has these protections.
If a severe storm brought heavy rains, however, and those rains caused flash flooding, you’d likely need an additional flood insurance policy for any flood-related damage.
Severe storms can also create the right conditions for tornadoes. Tornado damage is commonly protected under home insurance policies, either as its own named peril or more broadly under windstorm coverage, but again, check your own policy to make sure.

Winter storms

New York’s winter storms can cause damage to your home, too. There are high winds, as well as the weight of snow and ice that could damage your home’s roof or pull down branches from trees near your home. 
Fortunately, many of the problems that can come with a winter storm do have protection under a standard home insurance policy. 
Look for language that addresses frozen or burst pipes and their resulting water damage, too. 

Earthquakes

While New York might not be the first state that comes to mind during conversations about earthquakes, and while not extremely common, they have occurred here. In May 2021, a minor earthquake with a 2.4 magnitude was detected in Livingston County.
While uncommon, detected earthquakes in recent years have been quite minor and didn’t result in damages. While a more severe earthquake could occur in New York in the future, it’s hard to know if and when that would be.
If earthquake coverage is something you’re concerned about, it’s important to know that they’re not covered under a standard home insurance policy. You’ll need an additional policy.  
MORE: How to drive safely during an earthquake
Key Takeaway Before a natural disaster rushes in, make sure you understand your home insurance policy and what it covers, so you know what to expect from your provider if you ever do need to make a claim.

How to file a home insurance claim

If a natural disaster does ever cause damage to your home, you’ll need to file a claim with your home insurance company.
How does that work? Here are some of the steps involved when filing a homeowners insurance claim:
  • Document the damage. Take pictures and make notes on the extent of the damage to your home. Create a list of damaged and lost belongings. 
  • Tell your insurance company about the disaster and resulting damage. Different insurance companies may have varying preferences for how to go about filing a claim, but your policy documents should usually outline the necessary steps. Once you’ve submitted a claim, your insurance company will assign an adjuster to visit you and assess your damages.
  • Make any necessary emergency repairs in the meantime to protect your home from further damage. Save receipts so your insurance company can reimburse you for covered repairs!
  • Complete claim paperwork from your insurance provider as needed.
  • An adjuster will visit you to evaluate the damage. Sometimes, it’s not necessary for you to be home, depending on the extent and location of the damage, but it’s still a good idea to walk through the damages with them if you can. Be diligent here! This is your property, and the purpose of your insurance policy is to cover applicable damage appropriately when it occurs.  
  • Get repair quotes from trusted contractors. This will help you prepare for the settlement when it comes. It’s a good idea to get multiple quotes (ideally at least three), so you can feel confident about the price ranges that are being given to you.
  • Review your settlement carefully. You’ll get a settlement offer from your adjuster. While you might feel pressure to sign it, the coverage you’ll receive is essentially final. Before that happens, if you think the offer is less than what your coverage warrants, you should ask your insurance company to revisit your claim.
  • Receive your payment from your insurance company so you can begin repairing your home.

How to save money on homeowners and car insurance

Insurance policies are designed to protect you against the unexpected, including natural disasters. But the process of finding an affordable policy with the right amount of coverage often proves to be difficult. Fortunately, the
Jerry
app can make home and car insurance shopping quick and easy!
Jerry can help you bundle and save on both your car and home insurance policies, and getting started takes less than a minute. After answering a few quick questions, Jerry will show you competitive quotes from top insurance providers, including Allstate and Progressive.
If you have questions along the way, like coverage for certain natural disasters, Jerry’s experienced, friendly agents are here to help!
Jerry
was wonderful! I used it for my auto and renters policies. I trusted it so much that I signed up my homeowners insurance under Jerry as well. All of the agents are amazingly nice and knowledgeable.” —Mary Y.
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