Winter Storms

There seems to be a lot of severe weather around the country this winter. Blizzards, ice storms, and severe cold can mean big problems for property owners. Homeowners need to understand how their insurance covers some of these major perils.

Most homeowner's policies do not cover weight of ice, sleet, or snow damage to docks, piers, or wharfs. Heavy, wet snow and ice can do major damage to docks. Know your coverage and take preventative measures if you can remove snow from your dock before it becomes excessive.


Some policies only offer limited coverage for water damage. If your pipes freeze and bust this can result in thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home and its contents. If you are away from your home for an extended period this time of year turn off your water. This can help prevent major water damage from occurring. Also, make sure to leave cabinet doors open under sinks during very cold weather and keep the heat in your home around 70 degrees or more when the outside temps drop below 10 degrees.

Homeowners insurance will not cover generator expenses during power outages unless the lines are actually down on your property. There are few things a homeowner can do to prevent these types of losses but if you notice low hanging trees in power lines near your home notify your electric provider.

Taking af few of these steps may help you out the next time old man winter decides to throw another storm at us. Here in Oklahoma that could be any day now.