Tornado Insurance: what you need to know.

One of the most devastating things a homeowner can go through is the damage caused by a natural disaster, such as a tornado. Tornados can carve miles-long paths of destruction, destroying homes on one side of the street, but leaving others virtually untouched.

Having homeowners insurance is key to getting back on your feet after a tornado. Knowing what your policy covers is very important—especially if you live in what is known as “Tornado Alley.”

Which areas are more susceptible to tornadoes?

The U.S. has several distinctive characteristics that create conditions that make areas in the Central Plains States more susceptible to tornadoes. Specifically, the combination of warm, moist air moving up from the Gulf of Mexico and the dry, colder air that moves up and over the Rocky Mountains creates the conditions that allow tornadoes to form.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that these conditions don’t exist elsewhere in the U.S. Tornadoes have touched down in southern California and they’ve caused damage all the way up into Maine. Anywhere you get the mix of atmospheric conditions that make a tornado possible—namely, moisture, lift, instability, and wind shear—can make a place or region susceptible to tornadoes.

Where is “Tornado Alley”?

“Tornado Alley” is typically defined as stretching through the middle of the country, from Texas up to North Dakota—but it’s not an area that has a firm definition from the National Weather Service. The states that make up the core of Tornado Alley include: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. These are the states that are in the direct path of that combination of warm, moist Gulf air and drier, cooler air coming off of the Rocky Mountains—so, they see the most tornadoes.

States that are also widely considered to be part of Tornado Alley include: eastern parts of Colorado and Wyoming, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and even as far east as Indiana and Ohio.

Climate Central has noted that tornadoes are increasing in frequency outside of “Tornado Alley,” leading to concerns that changes in climate are widening the area of tornado susceptibility—and putting more people at risk.

What’s the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?

When meteorologists start to talk about the chance for upcoming severe weather, it’s important for you to understand the distinction between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A tornado watch means that the conditions are present for a tornado to form. A tornado warning means that cloud rotation has been sighted—this means a tornado is forming, or it can even mean that a tornado has formed and is heading in your direction.

There are many mnemonic devices to help with this—these are memory tricks that can help you keep the difference clear. One is to swap out “tiger” for “tornado”—now, which seems more imminent? A tiger watch, or a tiger warning? Using this swap, it’s clear that “watching” for tigers means danger is less immediate than a “warning” that a tiger has been spotted. Of course, both are worth paying attention to because tigers are dangerous—as are tornadoes.

Others use tacos as an analogy—with a taco watch, you have the ingredients to make tacos, which you may (or may not) decide to have. Compare that to a taco warning, in which you’ve used all of the ingredients, and a taco is headed your way.

Whichever tool you decide is most effective, the most important thing to know is to take watches and warnings seriously. Most cell phone companies now push weather alerts warning of dangerous conditions to phones. If you receive a notification that a tornado warning is in effect, take cover immediately.

Does homeowner’s insurance cover tornado insurance?

Most standard homeowners insurance policies could cover damage done by a tornado. Your dwelling coverage will help to repair damage to your house, “other structures” coverage will help to repair other buildings on your property, such as a shed that is damaged. Your personal property coverage is designed to replace belongings that are lost or destroyed, and loss of use coverage helps pay expenses associated with living elsewhere temporarily while your home is repaired or rebuilt.

It’s important to review your policy and understand what your coverage limits are, and how your deductible works. This is especially true if you are in a region—such as tornado alley—that carries a much higher risk for tornadic activity. This is because some of the other weather risks that can occur alongside a tornado or severe thunderstorm, such as hail or high wind damage, might be treated as separate risks in your policy.

Unlike earthquakes or flooding, tornado coverage usually does not require separate insurance. It is important to know what is in your policy, and how tornado damage might be covered.

Where can I apply for tornado insurance?

Tornado insurance should be part of your standard homeowners insurance policy, but as noted above, there is a potential for limits on your coverage. Or, your policy might have separate deductibles for wind or hail damage. You might also want to review your overall coverage, as housing prices, materials for rebuilding, and labor have all gone up in price—which could mean that your current policy may not be enough if you need to rebuild.

Talk to the experts at Guaranteed Rate Insurance, who can help guide you to the coverage you need to protect your home and property.

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