Wind Driven Storms

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

Wind Driven Storm

“Wind-driven rain” is one of those terms you’ve probably never thought of until buying home insurance.

In fact, most people have never even heard of the term “wind driven rain” until they realize their home insurance policy doesn’t cover it.

By then, it is usually too late.

WHAT IS WIND DRIVEN RAIN?

Wind driven rain is a self-explanatory thing: it’s rain that is driven into your home by the wind.

In the insurance world, wind driven rain refers to rain that comes through an opening into your property because it is being propelled by the wind. So if wind was out of the equation, the water would never have made it inside the home in the first place.

When a storm damages your home, it’s typically wind and rain that cause the majority of the damage. If the wind and rain cause damage on their own, then this is typically covered on your home insurance policy.

However, the “wind driven rain” stipulation may be used if your insurance agency finds out that your home essentially led to the damage caused by the storm. In this case, even if you have flood insurance, your insurance agency may not cover the damages.

HOW DOES YOUR HOME DAMAGE ITSELF WITH WIND DRIVEN RAIN?

As an example, one couple in Oldham County found out that water damage in their home after a storm was not covered by their insurance policy – even though they were paying for a premium home insurance plan.

The adjuster explained that damage inside the home was caused by rain from the storm. Normally, damages like that are covered by an insurance policy.

However, it was determined that the rain was driven into the home because the tiles on the roof needed repair. In other words, it wasn’t the storm that damaged the home. It was the poorly-maintained roof.

This is where things get a little tricky: your home insurance policy would cover damage if the high winds from the storm knocked a tree onto your roof, and then water leaked through your roof into your home.

However, if rain was driven into your home through the roof because the tiles needed to be repaired before the storm, then your insurance may not cover it.

It’s small distinctions like this that can cause insurance agencies to deny a claim.

FLOOD INSURANCE DOESN’T COVER WIND DRIVEN RAIN

When many people spot water damage in their home after a storm, they assume their flood insurance will cover the damage. That’s not true with wind driven rain, unfortunately.

Flood insurance covers overflow of inland or tidal waters and unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source. However, the flood must be a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area.

So if your home’s flood insurance doesn’t cover the damage, then what’s the next step?

WIND DRIVEN RAIN IS NOT ALWAYS OUTLINED CLEARLY IN INSURANCE POLICIES

Wind driven rain disputes can get frustrating for homeowners. Some homeowners feel they did everything right. They read through their home’s insurance policy. They maintained their home adequately. And still their claim is denied because of the wind driven rain stipulation.

In many cases, wind driven rain is clearly defined and outlined in your insurance policy.

Storm Damage In Your Home Or Business? Contact the professionals here at SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County today to speak to a Mitigation Specialist. 502.241.6861

SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County also proudly serves Spencer, Henry and Trimble Counties.