Though your home is supposed to be your safe place, it's vulnerable to numerous threats, itself. Acts of Mother Nature are one of the most common, and destructive, hazards your home is subject to on a daily basis. That's why it's so important to know exactly what your home insurance covers.
A Tennessee independent insurance agent can help you get set up with the right home insurance, if you're not already covered. They can also help you review an existing policy. But first, here's a closer look at home insurance in Tennessee and if it covers lightning.
How Can Lightning Damage a Home?
In one recent year, a reported $900 million in damage to property was caused just by lightning. Also, a reported 4,000 house fires were caused by lightning. In fact, fire and lightning are the most costly homeowners losses, averaging $68,322 per incident.
Lightning strikes have the ability to not only destroy property, but also cause resulting fires, which can lead to even more property damage. Lightning strikes can also cause severe injury and death to members of the household. That's why it's crucial to make sure that your home has all the protection it needs from these deadly disasters, through a Tennessee home insurance policy.
Does Home Insurance in Tennessee Cover Lightning?
Fortunately yes, Tennessee homeowners insurance does cover lightning damage. Lightning is one of many types of natural disasters covered by your homeowners insurance, in fact. Your home insurance also covers:
- Wildfires
- Hail
- Wind
- Snow
- Sleet
- Ice
In extreme weather events, it's nice to know you can rest assured that your Tennessee home insurance covers many types of natural disaster damage. After a lightning event, you'll have to pay the cost of your policy's deductible out of your own pocket before your insurance will cover the rest. When assessing the damage to your home, you'll need to weigh if the extent of the destruction is worth filing a claim.
How Does Tennessee Home Insurance Cover Lightning?
Your Tennessee home insurance covers lightning damage in two main ways. The first is by reimbursing you for property damage repairs or replacement up to your policy's limits. Damage to your home's exterior, as well as your personal property, is covered for lightning strikes. Fires caused by lightning are also covered.
Second, your home insurance covers additional living expenses if you're forced to live somewhere else while waiting for repairs to your house. This coverage pays for costs of hotel stays, eating takeout, laundry services, and more. A Tennessee independent insurance agent can further explain how your home insurance covers lightning damage.
How Common Is Lightning Damage to Homes in Tennessee?
You might be wondering how commonly homes in Tennessee even get struck by lightning. Turns out, it happens more frequently than you might expect. Check out the chart below for lightning losses to homeowners in the US in recent years, and see for yourself.
Number of Homeowner Insurance Claims Paid Due to Lightning Losses in the US
The number of lightning losses claimed by home insurance companies has actually declined quite a bit over the last decade, but it's still high. At the beginning of the observed period, there were 246,200 lightning losses filed through home insurance in the US. In a recent year, there was a total of 71,551.
With tens of thousands of homes across the US still being affected by lightning damage annually, it's critical to ensure that your home has the proper protection.
How to Protect Your Home from Lightning Damage
Fortunately there are some simple steps you can start taking today to protect your home from lightning damage so you'll hopefully never have to file a claim. Begin with the checklist below.
Take these steps to protect your home from lightning:
- Plug electronics into surge protectors: If a lightning strike happens, a surge protector can save your expensive gear like computers, etc.
- Get a lightning protection system: These handy systems are designed to protect your home's structure from lightning damage by grounding lightning's energy if and when it strikes.
- Get the right home insurance coverage: Make sure to work with your Tennessee independent insurance agent to get your home equipped with the right home insurance long before a storm ever hits.
Being proactive about lightning strikes is a great way to help reduce or even eliminate the possibility of having to go through your Tennessee home insurance after a storm.
Need-to-Know Tips to Protect Your Family from Lightning Strikes
Not only does your home need to be protected against lightning, but your family does, too. Fortunately there are also several easy steps you can follow to protect the members of your household from lightning.
Outdoors
- At the first sound of a thunder rumble, get everyone inside. If you're away from home but near your car, you can wait out the storm in your vehicle. If you're far away from all forms of shelter and vehicles, get everyone to crouch down close to the ground, but keep as much of your body off the ground as possible.
- Stay out of open areas as much as possible during thunderstorms. Also be sure to avoid sheltering under trees or standing near poles.
- If you get stuck outside with a group, make sure everyone spreads out a good distance.
- Since lightning can pass through walls and flooring, avoid contact or proximity to concrete floors and walls during a storm.
Indoors
- When a thunderstorm approaches, wait to take any baths or showers until after it's safely passed.
- Wait to work with your plugged-in electronics until after the storm passes.
- Don't use old-school corded phones during a thunderstorm. Use your cell phone or cordless house phone instead.
Following these simple tips can make all the difference in your family's well-being during an intense thunderstorm.
How to File a Claim after Lightning Strikes Your Tennessee Home
If lightning does strike your home, it's still easy to file a claim through your Tennessee home insurance. Just follow the steps below.
- Assess the property damage: After your family members are safe, inspect your property for any damage and take photos or videos to document the destruction.
- Call your independent insurance agent: With a simple phone call, you can ask any necessary questions and get answers from your Tennessee independent insurance agent, and they can get started filing your claim.
- Calculate your deductible: If the cost of the property damage caused by the lightning doesn't exceed the cost of your deductible amount, you'll want to consider whether filing a claim through your insurance company is really worth it.
- Receive payment: All home insurance companies have their own process for getting you your reimbursement payouts, but afterwards you can make home repairs and return to life as you previously knew it.
As always, your Tennessee independent insurance agent is there to help you through every step of the process if you need to file a claim after a storm.
Why Choose a Tennessee Independent Insurance Agent?
It’s simple. Tennessee independent insurance agents simplify the process by shopping and comparing insurance quotes for you. Not only that, but they’ll also cut the jargon and clarify the fine print so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Tennessee independent insurance agents also have access to multiple insurance companies, ultimately finding you the best home insurance coverage, accessibility, and competitive pricing while working for you.
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