If strong winds or lightning damage your home, your home insurance coverage probably already has incidental clauses that help protect you in the event of hurricanes, wildfires, or thunderstorms. An act of God describes an event that is beyond human control or activity, such as a natural disaster, such as a flood or an earthquake. Sometimes, your standard home insurance policy will cover certain random acts. Check both your buildings and your content insurance to see what coverage you have as standard.
The accidental coverage section of your insurance policy can protect you against damage caused by natural causes, such as floods. But this isn't always the case. You may have to pay more to update your policy or get a separate policy specific to certain circumstances, such as floods. This can create ambiguity when filing insurance claims, so if you are at risk of being affected by such an event, it's worth paying close attention when processing your insurance policy.
Kara McGinley was a senior editor and licensed home insurance expert at Policygenius, where she specialized in homeowners and renters insurance. Homeowners insurance generally covers water damage if it's sudden and accidental, such as a broken pipe, but homeowners insurance doesn't cover damage caused by plumbing jams, gradual leaks, or flooding. Stephanie Nieves was an editor and insurance expert at Policygenius, where she covered home and auto insurance. You'll need to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to cover flood damage to your home.
The final insurance policy premium for any policy is determined by the insurance company upon application. Even if your insurance policy covers a specific case of force majeure, you may face a dispute with your insurer if they believe that you haven't taken reasonable steps to prevent the damage from occurring. If you're not sure what your insurance covers, ask your insurer for clarification before taking out your policy. Your car insurance can cover your car if it's damaged by a fortuitous act, but only if your policy includes comprehensive coverage.
Homeowners insurance covers most fortuitous cases, which means that if your home or personal belongings are damaged due to a covered event, such as a tornado, hurricane, or wildfire, your home insurance can help you pay for the replacement of your belongings and the repair of your home.
