Most homeowners insurance policies will cover damages caused by a storm-created opening in your roof, windows, etc. that allows water to enter your home. However, if the water seeps into your home from the ground level, then this will be classified as flood damage and your standard homeowners policy will not cover the damage. There are many ways that policies can be written for excluding (versus covering) water damage. Here is the General Rule for Standard Homeowners Policies on water damage: If you have to look up to see the water coming in, it’s covered; if you have to look down, it’s not covered.
If there is concurrent damage from both wind-driven rain coming in through a storm created opening and flood waters then you will need to prove to your insurance company that the water damages were caused by the storm-created opening in order to activate your homeowners policy benefits.
If you have any questions about the insurance claims process, insurance policies, coverage questions for recent claims, or the new insurance law going into effect this month here in Texas, please feel free to contact us at 361-LAWYERS (361-529-9377) or www.361LAWYERS.com.