has 3,478 miles of coastline, making it prime real estate for severe storms and floods. Other issues that plague residents include hurricanes, power outages, and droughts.

If you’re a homeowner in the Pine Tree State, it’s wise to understand your risks and take precautions to protect your property.

In this article, car and homeowners insurance super app,

Jerry

will tell you everything you need to know about natural disasters and

homeowners insurance

in Maine.

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What is homeowners insurance—and what does it cover?

Levels of homeowners insurance coverage

A homeowners insurance policy is a collection of coverages that may help to repair or replace your home if it is damaged. It may also help cover costs if another person gets injured on your property or damages their belongings.

Typical policies cover damages caused by fire, wind, lightning, and hail—but not floods or earthquakes. Do you know what yours covers? Take a look at these common types of policies:

Levels of homeowners insurance coverage

HO-1: Known as basic homeowners insurance, an HO-1 policy covers your home at actual cash value. Personal belongings are sometimes included, but rarely.

HO-2: Also known as broad form homeowners insurance, an HO-2 provides protection for more perils, and it covers your home at replacement cost. Personal property is also covered at cash value.

HO-3: Known as special form coverage, your home is covered at replacement cost and personal property is covered at cash value under HO-3. This policy also includes liability and medical payments for people injured on your property.

HO-4: Intended for people who rent or lease, HO-4 policies cover personal property at replacement cost. They usually protect from damage caused by natural disasters like wind and fire.

HO-5: Sometimes called a comprehensive policy, an HO-5 includes all the same coverages as an HO-3, but your personal belongings are covered at replacement cost.

Not sure what this all means? Take a look at a simple breakdown.

Policy type	What’s covered	Open perils?
HO-1	Main structure only	Named perils only
HO-2	Main structure, personal property, loss of use, liability, medical payments	Named perils only
HO-3	Main structure, personal property, loss of use, liability, medical payments	Main structure - open perils, personal property—listed perils only
HO-5	Main structure, personal property, loss of use, liability, medical payments	Yes

MORE: How to get homeowners insurance after a lapse in coverage

What perils are covered by homeowners insurance?

If you're a homeowner in Maine, you need to understand what perils are covered by your insurance policy. You'll need to read the fine print to understand the exact coverages, but most policies protect from the following 16 named perils:

Fire and lightning

Windstorm or hail

Explosion

Smoke

Lightning

Riots

Damage from vehicles

Damage from aircraft

Vandalism

Theft

Falling objects

Weight of ice, snow, or sleet

Accidental overflow of water

Sudden and unexpected tearing, cracking, or bulging

Freezing

Damage due to short-circuiting

Volcanic eruption

It's important to note that floods and earthquakes are not on this list, and homeowners insurance generally does not cover them. You will need to purchase separate, special policies for these perils.

In addition, not all policies cover all the named perils—especially if you have an HO-1. That's why it's essential to understand exactly what your policy covers.

Key Takeaway Not all homeowners insurance policies are created equal. Make sure you understand your coverage to know what’s protected under your current policy.

Does home insurance cover natural disasters in Maine?

Historically, Maine residents face roughly two natural disasters a year—usually between March and May.

Severe storms are the most common culprit. Less common, but equally notable, are toxic algae blooms that cause the state's vital fishing industry to come to a grinding halt.

These are other disasters you might see while living in the Pine Tree State:

Floods

Maine is home to five major rivers, 2,500 miles of coastline, and 6,000 ponds and lakes. It also boasts over 42.6 inches of rain annually.

As you can imagine, the state is prone to flooding. For example, in October 2021, heavy rain caused flooding that washed away parts of Route 52, caused a sinkhole, and collapsed a pedestrian lookout over the Saco River.

If flooding damages your Maine home, government aid can be limited. It’s wise to purchase your own flood insurance policy through a private carrier or the

National Flood Insurance Program

(NFIP). Don’t get stuck without coverage when you need it most!

MORE: How much does flood insurance cost?

Winter storms

Residents of Maine will all agree on one thing: the state gets a LOT of snow. In Maine, winter runs from October to April (and sometimes May)—and in that time, they get between 50 and 110 inches of the fluffy stuff.

Add that to the frigid temperatures (the coldest on record is -50°F in January 2009), and you have a recipe for disaster.

Luckily, most homeowners policies will cover damage resulting from winter storms, except for flooding.

MORE: Driving in the snow: 7 tips for winter safety

Earthquakes

Earthquakes in Maine are few and far between, but they do happen.

Oddly, there are no faults in the state: geologists think the slight tremors that occur from time to time may be caused by regional stress in the North American Crust.

If you’re concerned that a quake may cause damage to your home, you can purchase an earthquake insurance policy from your home insurance provider. Earthquake coverage typically costs 10-25% of your dwelling’s policy limit.

MORE: Is earthquake insurance worth it? What you need to know

Severe storms

According to the

Maine Emergency Management Agency

, the entire state is vulnerable to severe thunderstorms all year long. Luckily, most of those storms occur in less populated areas—but in summer, coastal areas are subject to high winds due to sea breezes.

Maine storms come with lightning and wind, but heavy rain and sometimes hail. They are often fierce enough to uproot trees, knock down power lines, and interfere with communication systems.

Aside from flooding, homeowners insurance will likely cover most other storm-related damage to your home.

MORE: Does my home insurance cover winter storm and snow damage?

Power outages

Maine ranks first nationally with an astounding four major power outages a year. Most of these outages are caused by weather-related events and last about 14 hours.

While that may not seem long, it takes just four hours for refrigerated food to go bad after you lose power.

The damages caused by a power outage should be covered by your homeowners policy, but check the fine print for limitations.

Key Takeaway Most disasters in Maine are covered by homeowners insurance, but specific events—like floods or earthquakes—are typically not covered.

How to file a home insurance claim

If your home or personal property are damaged due to a natural disaster in Maine, here’s how to file a claim:

Photograph your home and belongings and make an inventory of damaged goods

Determine how much you paid for damaged items—it helps if you have receipts

Contact your insurance company and tell them you have to file a claim. An adjuster will be assigned to review the evidence

Fill out the necessary claims paperwork provider by your insurer

Meet with the adjuster to review the damage. Take your time and make sure to cover all your bases

Get repair estimates from several vendors to help negotiate a fair settlement

Start repairs once you receive your payout check

MORE:

Does car insurance cover natural disasters?

How to save money on homeowners and car insurance

Your chances of getting cheap homeowners insurance in Maine depend on several factors, such as how old your home is and your location. Your best bet is to compare rates from several insurers and see how they stack up in terms of coverage and rates.

That process, however, can be very time-consuming and confusing on your own.

If you’d rather leave the hard work of gathering quotes to someone else, use

Jerry

. The Jerry app can collect quotes from top insurance companies, like Travelers, Nationwide, and Progressive, in seconds! They even help cancel your old policy once you’ve made your pick.

This Jerry user was thrilled with their experience, giving the app five stars:

“My policy of 2.5 years lapsed, and I needed to look for something cheaper.
Jerry
found me a better policy with Progressive in 30 minutes––and I didn’t have to talk to anyone on the phone. Amazing!” —Jacques S.

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