Rhode Island Insurance Adjuster Exam

If a hurricane causes damage to a home, which type of damage is typically covered?

1. Both wind and water damage

2. Only water damage

3. Only wind damage

4. Neither, as natural disasters are excluded

The correct answer is: Only wind damage

In the context of hurricane-related claims, typically, standard homeowners insurance policies cover damage caused by wind. This includes structural damage to the home and its contents from high winds and flying debris associated with the hurricane. Wind damage is a common peril covered under most standard policies, making it essential for homeowners to have this coverage for situations involving hurricanes. Water damage, on the other hand, may not be covered by a standard homeowners policy. Many policies have specific exclusions for flood damage, which is the type of water damage most commonly associated with hurricanes. In fact, if a hurricane causes flooding that leads to water entering the home, this would generally require a separate flood insurance policy to be covered. When considering natural disasters, it’s important to understand that standard homeowners insurance policies do not exclude all natural disasters but may not cover certain types of damage resulting from them unless the proper coverage is in place. This means that while wind damage from a hurricane is typically covered, water damage might not be, unless the homeowner has specifically purchased additional flood insurance. Thus, the inclusion of wind damage in typical homeowners insurance policies highlights why this option is the best choice.