When severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes and similar events threaten communities, the high winds they bring are often among the primary causes of property damage. To get full financial protection against such damage, some people need wind insurance alongside their standard homeowners insurance.

Virginia residents will need to examine their homeowners policy to determine if they need additional wind coverage. They can rely on the expert team at Matt Roenker Insurance Agency to help. We understand the intricacies of the Virginia homeowners and wind insurance market and can help you secure appropriate levels of coverage. 

Call us at (757) 671-1111 or keep reading to learn more.

What Is Wind Insurance?

Following significant wind events—like hurricanes, tornadoes and severe storms—insurers are often inundated with property damage claims. In communities where these risks are exceptionally high, insurers might limit or exclude wind coverage on standard homeowners policies. 

To get coverage for wind damage, high-risk homeowners may need separate wind insurance. You can get wind coverage through an endorsement to your standard home insurance or as a separate policy; however, a separate wind policy is not a substitute for standard home insurance.

Please note: The Virginia Property Insurance Association provides homeowners insurance policies for high-risk homes that are uninsurable in the voluntary market. These plans, known as Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) plans, are often a last resort, and certain plans will include wind coverage.

How Do I Know I Need Wind Insurance?

The need for wind coverage can vary among communities and even from home to home. To know whether you need wind insurance, first examine the terms of your standard homeowners insurance. 

Insurer rules, state regulations and other factors will dictate whether standard homeowners coverage will apply to wind damage. The policy will reflect these stipulations, which can help you determine both whether you need wind insurance and when you’ll need to file a claim on the wind policy.

What Does Wind Insurance Cover?

Once you obtain wind insurance, the policy can provide dwelling coverage, other/detached structures coverage and possessions coverage. Your Matt Roenker Insurance agent can help you choose the policy limits that will ensure you receive adequate compensation for any losses.

Here are a few technicalities to wind coverage you should keep in mind:

• Water damage often accompanies high wind. For example, rain might enter your home through a hole caused by high winds. In these cases, wind coverage would not apply to the water damage, but the hole will be covered. Wind policies also will not cover damage done by flash floods, storm surge or similar events.
• You might hear the terms wind insurance and hurricane insurance used interchangeably. They are not identical. If you have hurricane insurance, then you might only be able to file a claim against this policy when wind damage is caused by a named storm.
• Some wind policies will cover hail damage, but you might already have this coverage under your standard plan.
• Fire damage, such as from a wildfire fanned by high winds, will not have coverage.

How Do Wind Insurance Deductibles Work?

Many insurers use separate deductible rules when claims are made against wind coverage. Often, wind damage deductibles are percentages of the total amount of dwelling coverage you carry. 

For example, you might have dwelling insurance worth $100,000 and a 5% deductible under your wind coverage. Therefore, your deductible for any wind damage will be $5,000. This deductible might be different from the one noted under your standard homeowners insurance terms. Your insurer will define when you will be obligated to pay a wind deductible instead of a standard deductible.

What Does Wind Insurance Cost?

Numerous factors, including your deductible options, can influence the cost of your homeowners insurance and wind coverage.

Your Matt Roenker Insurance expert will work with you to design the appropriate wind insurance policy for you while also helping you save money. Our carrier partners offer competitively priced policies, and we’ll make sure that you always pay the most affordable price for the coverage you need.