Does home insurance cover tornado damage?

Key points

• A standard homeowners insurance policy covers tornado damage and other wind-related problems.
• Some insurance companies have separate wind and hail deductibles for areas prone to tornadoes.  
• Living in a tornado-prone area may increase your homeowners insurance rates. 

Tornado frequency and severity is increasing across the country. There were 478 tornadoes across 25 states by April 5, 2023 — double the average number for this point in a year.

Wind and hail damage is the most frequently filed home insurance claim in the U.S., according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). Home insurance typically covers wind and hail damage from tornadoes, but depending on where you live, you may want extra coverage. 

Here’s what you need to know about tornado insurance. 

Does home insurance cover tornado damage?

Standard homeowners insurance policies typically cover tornado damage to the physical structure of your house and to your personal belongings. The coverage will usually include damage caused by wind, rain, hail and trees. It may also cover damage from mold, but will not cover flood damage. You’ll need flood insurance for that. 

Here’s how the different coverages in a homeowners insurance policy pay for repairs to your property after a tornado. 

• Dwelling coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your house if it’s damaged by wind or hail during a tornado, like if your roof is blown off.  
• Other structures coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild detached structures on your property — like a shed or gazebo — if damaged by a tornado, like if your fence is ripped from the ground or the wind causes a tree to fall on your pool house. 
• Personal property coverage: Pays to repair or replace your belongings if they’re damaged by a tornado. 
• Loss of use coverage: Pays for additional living expenses — like hotel stays and restaurant bills — if you need to temporarily live elsewhere while your house is being repaired or rebuilt after a tornado. 

Extra home insurance coverage for tornado damage

When it comes to tornado destruction, there’s a chance the damage to your house could surpass your coverage limits. 

Tornadoes and other natural disasters can result in an increase in local demand for construction and labor, which means the cost of rebuilding your house may go up and that price might exceed your dwelling coverage limit. 

When deciding how much homeowners insurance you need, you may want to consider these upgrades to your coverage. 

Extended replacement cost coverage

Extended replacement cost coverage can extend your dwelling coverage limit by 10% to 50%, depending on the insurance company. That means if you have $300,000 in dwelling coverage and 25% in extended replacement cost coverage, your limit can be increased to $375,000 if necessary. 

Guaranteed replacement cost coverage

Guaranteed replacement cost coverage will reimburse you for repairs to your house with no specific coverage limit. That means if a tornado destroys your house and others in your neighborhood — which causes labor and construction costs to skyrocket — you’ll be covered for rebuild costs, regardless of your original dwelling coverage limit. 

Do I need tornado insurance?

Unlike floods and earthquakes, tornadoes don’t typically require special coverage — they are covered by most homeowners insurance policies. 

But if you live in a high-risk area, check your policy and make sure you understand what it covers, including coverage limits, deductibles and exclusions. In some states, there may be special deductibles for wind and hail.

What is a wind and hail deductible?

Some insurance companies have wind and hail deductibles in addition to the standard home insurance deductibles. This is the amount that will be subtracted from your claim payout before your insurance company pays out for repairs. Wind deductibles are common in states with frequent severe wind events.

In Louisiana, for instance, hail and “windstorm” deductibles may come into play when a house is damaged by wind or hail, regardless of if it was by a tornado, tropical storm or severe thunderstorm. 

Wind and hail deductibles are typically set at a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit — usually from 1% to 5%. 

Here’s an example of how wind deductibles work 

Say your house is insured for $350,000 and your wind deductible is 5%. That means $17,500 will be deducted from your wind claim check and you’ll have that much less to pay for repairs. 

How much does tornado insurance cost?

The national average cost of home insurance is $1,582 per year for $350,000 in dwelling coverage, but you’ll likely pay more if you live in an area that experiences frequent tornadoes. 

For example, the average cost of comparable home insurance in tornado-prone Oklahoma is $3,651 per year — $2,069 more than the national average. 

Home insurance rates vary based on your house’s rebuild value, location, your claims history and other factors. Many insurers offer discounts if you take precautions to wind-proof your house, like with storm windows and doors. 

How to file a homeowners insurance claim for tornado damage

Filing a claim for tornado damage is much like filing a claim following any disaster. Here are some steps to take. 

1. Contact your insurance company. You should immediately let your insurance company know your house sustained damage and you’ll be filing a claim. Depending on your insurance company you may be able to do this over the phone, online or through a mobile app. 
2. Document the damage. You’ll want to provide as much proof of damage as possible, so take photos and videos of the damage if the house is safe to enter. 
3. Make temporary repairs. If it’s safe to do so, make temporary repairs to your house to prevent further damage. Keep your receipts for repairs that you make. 
4. Make a list. Document all of your damaged or destroyed personal property. Triple-I recommends you don’t throw anything away until you meet with an insurance adjuster. 
5. Vet contractors. Triple-I also warns against signing repair contracts until you’ve done your research to make sure you’re dealing with reputable contractors with references.
6. Submit your claim. Fill out a claims form for your insurance company with proof of damage. If your house is uninhabitable — like if the tornado ripped off your roof — your insurer should reimburse you as you temporarily stay elsewhere. 

It’s important to take proper precautions when re-entering your house after a tornado. If there are downed power lines or debris, it’s best not to enter your house until an expert says it’s safe to do so.

How to prepare your house for a tornado 

There are several ways to help tornado-proof your house, and some may even result in a discount on your home insurance. 

• Trim your trees of any loose branches.
• Inspect your roof to make sure there aren’t any potential leaks. 
• Fortify your house with storm-proof windows, doors and roof.   
• Bring outdoor furniture inside to prevent damage from flying objects. 
• If a tornado hits, turn off your gas and electricity to prevent a house fire. 

Tornado insurance FAQs