Category: Natural Catastrophe Insurance

One of the most common questions new homeowners have is, "Does homeowner’s insurance cover natural catastrophes?" Natural catastrophes including events like fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake, and tornado, and can cause extensive damage to both the interior and exterior of your home. United Insurance Services Inc. in Bluffdale, UT is here to help.

Here’s what you need to know:

Coverage Depends on the Specific Policy

Your coverage always depends on the language in your policy, so it’s important to discuss your needs with a licensed agent, who can ensure you have adequate coverage for your region. 

Many Natural Catastrophes are Covered

Damage caused to your home by these natural catastrophes is covered by most homeowner’s policies: 

• Fire – except in certain cases, damage caused by a house fire is typically covered
• Hail – most homeowner’s insurance policies cover damage caused by hail
• Wind – high winds can damage your shingles, siding, fascia, and more, and these damages are often covered by homeowner’s insurance
• Winter storms – while damage from winter storms is less common, it’s typically covered by homeowner’s insurance

Some Natural Catastrophes are Not Covered

Although coverage varies, these natural catastrophes are typically covered by a separate, additional policy and not by standard homeowner’s insurance: 

• Flood – except in very specific circumstances, flood damage is not generally covered by your homeowner’s insurance; you’ll need a separate policy to cover damage from flooding
• Hurricane – damage caused by a hurricane typically falls under hurricane insurance rather than homeowner’s insurance
• Earthquake – damage caused by an earthquake is typically covered by earthquake insurance, which you need in addition to homeowner’s insurance if you live in a high-risk area

To learn more or get your quote for homeowner’s insurance, visit us at United Insurance Services Inc. in Bluffdale, UT today. We can help ensure you have the right coverage for your property and region. 

Owning property in Bluffdale, UT, you want to be sure you’re protected from events that can create significant damage. Major storms, calamities, and the like are scary prospects, and it turns out that there’s a type of insurance made just for these events: catastrophe insurance.

But doesn’t your home insurance policy already cover a lot of this? How do the two work together? We get these questions a lot at United Insurance Services Inc., so we made a quick guide to help you understand common points of overlap between catastrophe insurance and other policies. As you read, remember that every policy is unique; these are only general comparisons.

Homeowner’s Policies

Catastrophe insurance is largely designed to cover gaps in typical home insurance policies. This includes natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. It also includes human disasters, like riots. In most cases, a home policy won’t have any overlap with catastrophe coverage, and that’s the point.

This largely holds true for commercial property insurance as well. The catastrophe policy is designed around traditional exceptions of coverage in property insurance. You won’t see very much overlap, if any, remembering that each policy is unique and will have specific differences in coverage.

Hazard Insurance

On the other hand, hazard insurance and catastrophe insurance tend to have a lot of overlap. With some providers, these are two names for the same insurance, but with many providers, there are subtle differences that are worth noting.

In general, hazard insurance is designed for the so-called acts of God. Major storms are a big example. Many home policies have limited or no coverage when it comes to “acts of God,” and hazard insurance is designed to make sure you are covered for those events.

Catastrophe insurance covers many of those same gaps, but it adds more coverage in terms of human-called catastrophes, like riots.

We Are Here To Help!

In all, catastrophe insurance is a great way to make sure your property in Bluffdale, UT, is covered from some of the most devastating events that can happen. If you would like to explore this idea in greater detail, contact your United Insurance Services Inc. representative today.

At United Insurance Services Inc., serving the greater Bluffdale, UT area, one of the types of insurance that we are pleased to offer to both our residential and commercial customers is natural catastrophe insurance. This type of insurance helps to protect a home or business against some of the largest natural catastrophes, many of which are not covered by home insurance or commercial insurance products.

Unfortunately, though, this is not an insurance product many people are familiar with, and as such, they often ask what types of events this type of insurance protects against. 

What Types of Events Does Natural Catastrophe Insurance Cover?

Natural Disasters

Natural catastrophe insurance helps to cover many natural disasters that can occur. This includes earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes. One of the biggest misconceptions out there pertaining to insurance is that your home or commercial insurance products will help to cover any damage done by these events, but most policies exclude natural disasters, which is why a natural catastrophe insurance policy can be beneficial. 

Human-Made Disasters

Natural catastrophe insurance also helps to protect against human-made disasters. This may include things such as damage done to your building or theft or personal property damage that occurs to your home or business due to a riot or a terrorist attack. 

Reach Out To Us

Natural catastrophe insurance helps to protect against many types of catastrophic events, including natural and human-made disasters. Here at United Insurance Services Inc., serving the greater Bluffdale, UT area, we would love to help answer any questions you may have about natural catastrophe insurance and help you find the right natural catastrophe insurance policy for your needs. Call us today to get the help you deserve. 

Sadly, natural disasters are a fact of life. In terms of climate and geography, the United States is immensely diverse. However, this also means that a wide range of natural disasters could impact families across the country. Natural catastrophe insurance will provide protection against many threats.

That said, it’s crucial to study insurance policies closely or to work with an insurance agent to make sure that any given insurance plan protects against specific threats to you, your family, and your home. 

Contact United Insurance Services Inc., serving Bluffdale, UT and many other communities, to discuss natural catastrophe insurance.

Some Common Natural Catastrophes

Let’s take a look at some of the most common natural disasters in the United States. While considering catastrophe insurance, it may help to know what some of the most common disasters are.

Wildfires

Wildfires are common throughout much of the United States. Part of California and other areas of the American West have suffered massive wildfires in recent years. Texas, North Carolina, and many other places have likewise suffered wildfires. Areas suffering draughts may be more likely to experience fires that quickly grow out of control.

Hurricanes

Each year, there are 14 named storms, on average, in the Atlantic basin. These storms are named in part because they are so severe. Roughly eight such storms will reach hurricane strength with four considered major storms. Occasionally, hurricanes in the Pacific will impact the West Coast. While coastal regions are the most at risk, hurricanes can travel far inland.

Tornadoes

While most common across the Midwest, tornadoes can strike elsewhere as well. Each year there are roughly 800 reported tornadoes. These weather events can cause hundreds of millions in damage per year, if not more.

Floods

Besides rising water levels, floods can cause mudslides and other problems. Typically, floods are only covered by specialized flood insurance programs. Even those who don’t live in high-risk flood zones should talk with an insurance agent about obtaining coverage.

Severe Storms

Tornadoes and hurricanes often get the most attention, but regular storms are a major risk too. High winds, falling debris, and heavy rains pose a variety of risks.

Give Us A Call

Natural catastrophe insurance is crucial. Contact United Insurance Services Inc. right away. We serve Bluffdale, UT and many other communities.

Your home insurance covers your home against numerous natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions, hail, lightning, tornadoes, and wildfires. While your homeowner’s insurance covers you against a wide range of natural disasters, it doesn’t cover common risks like flooding and earthquakes.

Home insurance is a bare minimum if you want all-rounded protection for your home. If you live in an area ravaged by floods and earthquakes, invest in natural catastrophe insurance from United Insurance Services Inc. in Bluffdale, UT.

What is natural catastrophe insurance?

What does it cover?

This coverage is what you would expect from the name — it covers you against natural disasters. The coverage you receive depends on the vulnerability of your location. The common natural disasters covered by natural catastrophe insurance include:

• Floods: Whether your home is located near a waterbody or not, it’s never safe from flooding. Flash floods are common and usually cause significant property damage when they strike. Since typical home insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, you must purchase supplemental coverage. This policy covers damage to your building and the contents inside.
• Earthquakes: While earth movements and sinkholes can cause significant damage to your home, they aren’t covered by home insurance. Purchasing earthquake insurance covers your building, its contents, and loss of use.
• Tornadoes: Typical home insurance covers damage linked to tornadoes — hail and windstorms. However, if you live in a location prone to tornadoes, home insurance won’t cover you against them. As such, please invest in separate coverage. 

Contact Us Today

Since you have invested a lot in your home, it makes sense to do everything possible to protect it. While home insurance is a powerful investment, it isn’t sufficient on its own. Do consider investing in natural catastrophe insurance to cover gaps inherent in your home insurance. Get in touch with United Insurance Services Inc. in Bluffdale, UT today for more information. 

In Utah, you’re bound to experience a wild adventure at some point in your life. Our many valleys, canyons, mesas, and plateaus are a testament to how volatile our state’s natural environment can be. If you’re not careful and know what to expect, these natural hazards can wreak havoc on your life. We at United Insurance Services, Inc. in Bluffdale, UT help our clients navigate this important insurance covereage. 

Here is a list of our most common natural catastrophes:

Wildfires

Wildfires are a common occurrence in Utah. The state has one of the highest rates of wildfire per capita in the U.S. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 1,085 fires scorched 60,863 acres in Utah in 2021 alone.

Flash Flooding

Flash flooding is a leading cause of natural disasters in Utah, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources. The state experiences flash flooding several times yearly, usually during the summer months. Intense rainstorms can cause flash floods, blocked storm drains, and overflowing rivers and reservoirs.

Landslides

The steep and mountainous terrain of Utah is prone to landslides. The most endangered lands include agricultural lands, rangelands, and residential properties. Over 10 million acres in the state are at risk for slope instability, including urban areas such as Ogden and Summit County.

Give Us A Call

Your home is a personal sanctuary, and you want to protect it from any disaster. Preparing for sudden events such as earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and even tornadoes is essential. While you can’t prepare for every possible disaster that might strike your home, you can protect yourself financially with a natural catastrophe insurance policy from United Insurance Services, Inc. in Bluffdale, UT. Contact us online, over the phone, or in-person to learn more!