Which Natural Disasters Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in Pennsylvania?
Home insurance in PA only covers certain natural disasters. Flooding is not covered by the standard home insurance policy.
Written by Lynell Spencer
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Floods, severe storms, tropical and winter storms, wildfires, landslides, tornados, and power outages are the disasters that Pennsylvanians are most likely to experience. Note that flooding due to floods and severe storms is not covered by standard homeowners policies.
Many homebuyers have misconceptions about what is actually covered by their homeowners insurance. In 2016, a study conducted by the Insurance Information Institute (III) found that 28% of Americans incorrectly assume that flood damage caused by a hurricane is covered by their standard home insurance policy, and 29%wrongly believe earthquakes are covered.
Not having the right coverage can be devastating if you experience a natural disaster. Things can be more complicated if you are moving to a new state or area where you are unfamiliar with environmental risks. Fortunately,
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What is homeowners insurance—and what does it cover?
Homeowners insurance is a policy required by most mortgage lenders that protects against damage to your home and possessions caused by theft, fire, or other named perils.
Here are some key terms to know that will help you understand your policy:
Perils: A peril is any event or action that could potentially damage your home. Which perils are covered varies from policy to policy, but various common perils are typically included.
Open perils: When you see this term, it means that your policy covers damage from any event unless specified in your policy.
Named perils: If you have a named perils policy, only the events listed in your policy are covered.
Actual cash value: An actual cash value (ACV) policy will cover what you paid for the damaged structure minus depreciation. This means it is likely that the older your home is, the less money you will receive for repairs.
Replacement cost: Replacement cost policies pay you at the current market value to repair or replace your home and/or personal property.
Depreciation: Depreciation measures the value that your home loses due to age, use, and general wear and tear.
Levels of homeowners insurance coverage
HO-1 provides only the most basic coverage and is limited to the structure of your dwelling. These policies are the least popular, as they cover only the house itself and do not address personal property, loss of use, liability, or medical payments.
HO-2: Another type of named perils policy is HO-2. These policies typically cover more named perils and extend to cover your home and your personal property.
HO-3: This is the most common type of homeowners insurance policy. HO-3 policies are more comprehensive and include coverage for the house, additional structures—like fences and sheds—personal property, loss of use, liability, and medical payments.
With an HO-3 policy, your house is covered at replacement cost, and your personal property is covered at actual cash value.
HO-5: This type of policy is top of the line. It is an open perils policy for your home and all of your belongings. Premium coverage will cost you, though, and may only be worth it when you have a custom home or expensive assets like jewelry, art, and electronics that may be difficult to replace.
Here’s a more basic breakdown of the policy types:
Policy type | What’s covered | Type of peril |
|---|---|---|
HO-1 | House only | Named perils |
HO-2 | House, personal property, loss of use, liability, medical payments | Named perils |
HO-3 | House, personal property, loss of use, liability, medical payments | Dwelling—open perils, personal property—named perils only |
HO-5 | Main structure, personal property, loss of use, liability, medical payments | Open perils |
What perils are covered by homeowners insurance?
Now that you know what types of policies are available, it’s important to know which perils are named on your policy. In Pennsylvania, damage to your home is most often caused by flooding, which is not typically included in the standard 16 named perils:
Perils generally named in all policy types are:
- Fire and lightning
- Smoke
- Volcanic eruption
- Explosion
- Riot or civil commotion
- Hail and windstorms
- Damage caused by vehicles
- Damage caused by aircraft
- Vandalism
- Theft or malicious mischief
Additional named perils covered by HO-2 and HO-3 policies include:
- Falling objects
- Weight of snow, ice, or sleet
- Water overflow or discharge from plumbing
- Water heater cracking
- Damage from electrical current
- Frozen pipes
Key Takeaway Your homeowners insurance coverage depends on your policy type and the specific perils listed on your policy. It is important to know which perils are most common in the area where you plan to buy a house.
Does home insurance cover natural disasters in Pennsylvania?
Flooding
In 2021, heavy rainfall due to Hurricane Ida caused the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek to rise to unprecedented levels, causing flooding that damaged or destroyed nearly 1000 Pennsylvanian homes.
Flooding, including floods caused by hurricanes or other tropical storms, is not covered in any standard home insurance policy.
Since this is the number one type of disaster reported in PA, you should add flood insurance to your other policies. A great place to start is the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Fire
Pennsylvania can also be susceptible to wildfires. Wildfires—and house fires in general—are usually covered as a named peril in all standard home insurance policies. Just make sure that your limits are high enough to cover your home and belongings.
Tornadoes
While tornadoes are not the biggest threat in PA, they do happen occasionally. Luckily, tornadoes (and other windstorms) are usually included in a named peril policy.
Tornadoes and other windstorms often lead to debris including downed trees and electrical lines. Your policy should contain a clause about debris removal.
Earthquake
You are generally unlikely to experience an earthquake in Pennsylvania—and when one does happen, it’s usually of a lower magnitude.
Earthquake damage is not covered in a standard homeowners policy, so do some homework about your particular area to decide if you need to add an earthquake policy.
Landslides
Like earthquakes, landslides are considered an “earth movement” event and are not included as a named peril in a standard policy. Events that are associated with earth movement include landslides, mudslides, and earthquakes, which can be covered separately.
In some cases, a “
Difference in Conditions
” policy may be appropriate for you. These policies can also protect against mudslides, mudflow, and flooding. Key Takeaway Pennsylvania homeowners should add flood insurance and make sure to update policies regularly, especially if they upgrade or renovate their homes.
How to file a home insurance claim
Here’s what to do if your home is damaged by a covered peril and you’d like to file an insurance claim.
- File a police report if the situation calls for it. If your loss is a result of theft, vandalism, criminal mischief, or other illegal activity, your claim will need to include an official police report and case number.
- Notify your insurance company. Get a hold of your agent at the earliest possible moment. Your insurer may offer an app or online claims service, but for anything more than a minor claim, a real-time conversation is best.
- Attend to any emergency repairs. Take care of anything that is putting you, your property, or your home in danger of more damage. Make sure to keep any documentation or receipts for reimbursement.
- Document the claim. Be very thorough in listing and photographing all items for which you’ll be filing the claim. You should already have photographs of items that you have insured in their original condition for comparison.
MORE:
Worst claim mistakes
How to save money on homeowners and car insurance
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