In the Pacific Northwest, we know a thing or two about severe weather. Wind, rain, ice, and snow – We get it all. In preparation for the winter season, we have prepared a series of guides to help people protect their home. These guides are everything you need to know about how to prepare your home for ice and snow, wind, and floods with tips to keep your items safe and having the right insurance when disaster happens.
What to know about windstorms
When the winds start howling, it is understandable to be concerned about your home, car, and recreation vehicles that could be damaged. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are lucky to be surrounded by beautiful forests. But when those trees come crashing down, you want to make sure your insurance protects you.
Typical home insurance policies usually protect your house in case of damage from the wind. Your policy probably includes property damage caused by tornadoes, hurricanes, and high wind events. Homeowners’ insurance will help you repair your home as long as there are no exclusions on your policy. Make sure you keep an adequate inventory of your possessions in your home just in case those are damaged due to the tree so you can get those replaced as well.
Read our full guide to Puget Sound windstorms including a comprehensive guide to insurance and ways to protect your property before a storm hits.
YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO HOME AND CAR INSURANCE DAMAGE COVERAGE FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST WINDSTORMS
Your flood insurance questions answered
Flood insurance is one of the more commonly misunderstood insurance coverages. Many homeowners assume that if they have a homeowner’s insurance policy, then they’re covered from all water damage that could occur to their home. This is not true.
Flood insurance is not typically included in standard home insurance policies – it requires a separate policy altogether.
Check out all our flood insurance FAQ’s and how it compares to other coverages.
FLOOD INSURANCE FACTS, COVERAGE & QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
When rain turns to snow and ice
When a cold front moves in, the damage to your home or car can be catastrophic. Although the freezing temperatures may not directly cause damage to your property, it could affect you in other ways. For you home, damage is typically caused by a water pipe that burst due to ice expansion. Once the ice thaws, water begins flowing and could cause major damage if not cared for immediately. In addition to water damage, heavy ice or snow could cause a roof to collapse or trees to fall.
Our complete guide to freezing weather has tips on how to prepare you home, auto, and more for the cold temperatures. If disaster strikes, we also included a checklist on what to do if you experience a claim.
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO HOME AND AUTO INSURANCE DURING FREEZING WEATHER
In addition to our guide, Stephen Harrington, the COO of Cross Insurance Agency and a long-time insurance expert, sat down for a Q&A all about navigating insurance when living in an area that experiences snow and ice during the winter. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.
Ask the expert: Understanding how ice or snow impacts your insurance
Performing an annual review of your insurance policies will help make sure you are properly protected based on where you live and the extreme weather you may experience. For Cross Insurance Agency customers, one of the many benefits is that a local, fully licensed, and Pacific Northwest experienced insurance agent is your professional advisor. We perform annual reviews with all our clients and monitor the industry for you, so you know you always have the best.