Windstorm Hazard

What Does Windstorm Hazard Mean?

Windstorm hazard refers to the risk that strong winds will damage a property during severe weather conditions, such as a tornado, hurricane, or hailstorm. Most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover windstorm damage because a single intense storm can damage numerous properties simultaneously, creating a loss too large for the insurance company to handle. Because the perils that create a windstorm hazard often overlap with broader weather events, it helps to check whether homeowners insurance covers natural disasters in your area before assuming you’re protected.

Insuranceopedia Explains Windstorm Hazard

Insurance companies may offer windstorm coverage either as a rider to a homeowners’ insurance policy or as a separate windstorm insurance policy. For homeowners in tornado-prone or coastal regions, it pays to read the policy specifics on hurricane damage and tornado damage separately, since insurers often handle each peril under different terms even within the same windstorm category. However, in some high-risk areas, private insurance companies may refuse to cover windstorm hazards. In such areas, a state government agency typically provides windstorm insurance policies to fill this coverage gap.