Whether you own a home, a condo or even rent, it is important to take time before a storm hits to review your policy and know what it covers and what it doesn’t. A good place to start is by reviewing your policy’s declaration page. It is usually the first or second page in your policy document. It identifies:

• The kinds and amounts of coverage you have
• What your deductibles are

Call your agent or insurance company if you’re not sure.

You can also contact the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID), and we can help answer your questions and concerns. Email us at insurance@ct.gov or call the Consumer Helpline at 860-297-3900.

Inquiry: If my tree is blown over or falls due to wind, snow or ice and damages my neighbor’s property, does my policy pay to fix the damage? What if the tree damages my home? What if the tree is blown over but no structure is damaged?

Answer: Your Homeowner’s policy does not automatically pay for a fallen tree on your property that damages your neighbor’s property. Your neighbor should file a claim with their own insurer. A tree owner is legally liable for the damage only if owner negligence caused the tree to fall, otherwise it’s considered an act of God.

If you are sued by your neighbor, the personal liability coverage in your Homeowner’s policy may pay for legal costs if you are found negligent.

If the tree falls on your house due to a covered peril, then damage to the house is covered. The Homeowner’s policy generally covers the cost to remove the tree from the house when the damage is caused by a covered peril.

If the tree is blown over and does no damage to structures, there is generally no coverage for the tree and no coverage to remove the tree from the premises. However, some

insurers do provide a limited amount of coverage for this type of loss so contact your agent or your insurer for additional information regarding this coverage.

Inquiry: The food in my freezer went bad because I lost power. Does my policy provide coverage for this?

Answer: The standard Homeowner’s policy usually does not include coverage for spoiled food. However, refrigerated food spoilage coverage is a popular coverage for insurance companies to offer and you may be able to buy this coverage for a nominal additional premium.

Inquiry: My home is not fit to live in due to storm damage. Does the company pay for my motel and restaurant bills?

Answer: Your policy includes coverage for "Additional Living Expense" in the event you cannot live in your home due to a covered loss. This includes the cost for motel rooms, a food allowance and other living costs in excess of what would have existed had the home not been damaged, such as increased transportation.

Inquiry: Does my insurance cover me for hotel expenses if I am forced out of my home to due to loss of power?

Answer: Generally, no. Standard Homeowners’ policies provide coverage only for "Additional Living Expenses" if a loss covered by the policy damages the structure, making it uninhabitable. But because policies differ, it is important to check with your agent or insurance company to be sure.

Inquiry: Does a Homeowner’s policy cover loss by windstorm even though the storm is an "Act of God".

Answer: Yes.

The Homeowner’s policy covers damage to the homeowner’s property caused by events even though the cause is described as an "Act of God." Again, it’s important to check your policy to see if it excludes any perils.

Inquiry: Does a Homeowner’s policy cover loss by windstorm even after the storm is classified a tornado or a hurricane?

Answer: Yes.

The Homeowner’s policy covers loss caused by windstorms regardless of how the storm is classified, i.e. hurricane, tornado, cyclone, etc.

Wind or Hurricane Deductibles

Inquiry: Do all Homeowner, Renters or Condominium policies have wind deductibles?

Answer: No.

Insurance companies may offer, and consumers may choose to apply a windstorm or hail deductible in lieu of an overall policy deductible. Windstorm or hail deductibles may not be mandated by insurers in Connecticut. Windstorm or hail deductibles may either be in the form of a flat dollar amount or a percentage of the limit for the covered dwelling.

Hurricane deductibles are different than windstorm or hail deductibles. Hurricane deductibles may only be applied under specific circumstances related to the storm. In the event of a loss caused by hurricane, an insurer may impose a hurricane deductible, in certain towns, in lieu of an overall policy deductible only if the damage occurred during the period commencing with the issuance of a hurricane warning by the National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service in any part of the state if the hurricane results in a maximum sustained surface wind of 74 miles per hour or more for any part of this state.

Imposition of a hurricane deductible can only be applied during the period:

(A) commencing not earlier than when the National Weather Service National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for any part of this state, and

(B) ending the earlier of:

1. Twenty-four hours after the National Hurricane Center's termination of the last hurricane warning for any part of this state; or
2. Twenty-four hours after the National Hurricane Center's last downgrade of the hurricane from hurricane status for any part of this state,

If your Homeowner’s policy contains a hurricane deductible, then the application of the deductible must comply with Connecticut law. The percentage and dollar amount of the hurricane deductible will be listed on the Declarations page if it is applicable to the policy.

Inquiry: The stream behind my property overflowed the banks. My basement is flooded, and furniture is damaged. Am I covered?

Answer: No, not unless you have a Flood Insurance Policy.

The Homeowner’s policy excludes damage caused by flooding, such as the overflow of streams, rivers and lakes, etc. Flood policies are subject to rules established by the federal government. Normally you cannot purchase a Flood policy immediately before or after a flood or hurricane. There is a 30-day waiting period before a flood policy takes effect.

Damage from flooding is excluded from Homeowner’s, Condo, and Renter’s insurance, but separate policies can be purchased from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.

For more information, visit the CID Flood Insurance Information Center.

Inquiry: I own a business that has been forced to shut down because of a power outage. Am I covered for these losses?

Answer: Commercial Policies are specialized. Call your agent or company to discuss the coverages on your policy. Coverage for losses are specific to the individual policy language and the specific facts of the loss. Off-site power interruption is not usually a covered Business Interruption loss unless you have purchased extra coverage often called “Service Interruption Coverage.”

Standard Business Interruption coverage normally pays for losses resulting from direct damage to the insured location for a loss covered under the policy.