Updated: June 1, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Homeowners insurance covers common disasters like fire, hail and windstorms but excludes floods, earthquakes and mudslides by default.
Storm surge from hurricanes isn't covered unless you have separate flood insurance, even if wind damage is.
You can enhance your disaster protection with add-ons like flood or earthquake insurance and by reviewing regional risks annually.
Homeowners insurance covers damage from certain natural disasters like windstorms, hail, fire and lightning. However, it doesn't cover damage from earthquakes, floods or landslides unless you buy additional coverage. Understanding which disasters are covered helps ensure your home is fully protected.
Standard homeowners insurance pays for damage or loss from specific natural disasters. This protection covers your home's structure and belongings, depending on your policy type.
Covered natural disasters include:
Covers structural damage caused by strong winds.
Protects against impact damage to roofs, siding and windows.
Covers fire damage or power surge impacts due to lightning strikes.
Pays for damage to your home and belongings caused by flames or smoke.
Covers losses from ash, lava flow and blast damage.
Applies if accumulation causes roof collapse or water intrusion.
These events are covered under your policy's named or open peril clauses. Coverage varies by provider and location, so review your policy details.
For broader protection, you may need separate insurance or endorsements for disasters like floods or earthquakes, which are excluded from standard policies.
Homeowners insurance pays for repairs, reconstruction and personal property replacement after a covered natural disaster, but only under specific conditions.
Review your policy and confirm coverage specifics with your provider. Endorsements or separate policies are needed for uncovered events like floods or earthquakes.
Certain high-risk disasters are excluded from standard policies:
These exclusions are listed in your policy's "exclusions" section. You'll need standalone policies or endorsements for full protection.
Natural Disaster | Typically Covered? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Fire/Wildfire | Yes | Standard coverage applies |
Windstorm/Tornado | Yes | Wind damage is typically covered |
Hail | Yes | Often covered under dwelling and roof |
Lightning | Yes | Covers fire or electrical surges |
Hurricane | Partially | Wind yes; storm surge requires flood policy |
Earthquake | No | Requires separate earthquake insurance |
Flood | No | Requires FEMA/NFIP or private flood policy |
Landslide/Mudslide | No | Often excluded due to ground movement |
Snow/Ice | Sometimes | Covered if it causes roof collapse or water damage |
Having your finances covered during emergencies is a good thing, but prevention beats claims when possible. Here are steps to protect yourself during natural disasters:
Available through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private providers.
Available as an endorsement or separate policy.
Reassess your policy annually based on local risks and weather patterns.
Install storm shutters, roof reinforcements, and elevate systems in flood-prone areas.
Most insurance companies including State Farm and Hippo offer homeowners insurance. Compare different companies to find the best policy for your needs.
Homeowners insurance costs $175 per month on average. Your rates depend on how much coverage you need and how much personal property you own. Our personal property calculator below can estimate your insurance cost.
When figuring out how much renters insurance you need, experts recommend the standard $100,000 in liability insurance and enough personal property protection to cover your possessions. Use MoneyGeek's calculator to estimate the value of your possessions so you know how much personal property coverage to buy.
Clothes, shoes, bags, belts, hats, gloves, etc.
Homeowners insurance covers many natural disasters including fire, wind and hail. However, damage from earthquakes, floods and similar events requires separate coverage. Review your policy, assess your local risks and explore endorsements or standalone policies to ensure you're protected from the full range of natural threats.
Natural disasters are unpredictable, but your coverage doesn't have to be. Here are answers to common questions about how homeowners insurance protects against them.
It may cover wind damage but not storm surge or flooding unless you have separate flood insurance.
Yes. Earthquake and flood insurance are available as separate policies or endorsements, depending on your provider.
Floods, earthquakes, mudslides and sinkholes are typically excluded.
Yes. Wildfires are considered a covered peril under standard homeowners policies.
No, wind damage from tornadoes is covered under most standard policies.
We analyzed quotes from multiple insurance providers across the U.S. using a profile that reflects the average homeowner. We compared different locations and companies to provide reliable estimates and show why comparing rates matters.
Homeowner Profile Our analysis used a sample homeowner with these characteristics:
Coverage Details We used these coverage limits to collect quotes:
We also analyzed policies with higher coverage for expensive homes: $1 million dwelling coverage, $500,000 personal property coverage and $1 million liability coverage.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
