Guide to Disaster and Emergency Insurance Preparations

Prepare before a natural disaster or severe weather event by understanding the risks you may face, reviewing your insurance coverage, documenting your property, and taking steps to reduce potential damage.

Know Your Risk

Massachusetts residents can face different types of severe weather and natural disasters. Understanding the risks to your home can help you prepare your property and review your insurance coverage before damage occurs.

What weather risks should you prepare for?

Hurricanes and wind

Hurricanes and other severe storms can bring damaging winds. Wind damage is usually covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, but some policies have a separate wind or hurricane deductible. Review your policy so you understand which deductible applies and how much you would be responsible for paying after a covered loss.

Severe convective storms

Severe convective storms can bring damaging wind, power outages, tornado activity, hail or lightning strikes. Interior water damage from a storm, when there is no damage to the roof or walls of your home, damage as the result of a flood, removal of fallen trees (if the trees do not land on and damage your home) food spoilage due to a power outage and water damage from backed-up drains or sewers are not covered under most standard homeowners policies. Some insurers offer endorsements (additional protection that may be purchased) for certain coverages not covered under the standard homeowner policy, so check with your agent or company to determine your needs.

Snow, winter weather, and freezing pipes

Snow, ice dams, and extreme cold can damage homes and property. Snow and ice accumulation can snap tree branches that could fall onto your home, causing structural damage. Ice dams form when heavy snow melts and refreezes. Ice dams can damage roofs, and melting ice can leak and cause indoor water damage.Water damage from burst pipes is often covered if reasonable steps were taken to maintain heat.

Flood

Flooding can happen outside designated high-risk flood areas, and standard homeowners, renters, and condominium insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Flood insurance may be purchased separately.

Learn more about your risk and coverage options on the Division of Insurance’s Flood Assistance and Insurance Information page.

Review Your Coverage

Review your insurance policies to see if you have adequate coverage, including whether you have or need flood insurance. If you are not sure you have enough coverage, talk to your insurance agent or insurance company. 

Check what your policy covers before a disaster happens. This includes understanding:

• Whether you can hire someone to make emergency repairs.
• Whether your insurer will reimburse you for repairs you make yourself.
• Whether your policy will pay expenses associated with bringing your home up to the current building code.
• Whether your policy has a separate wind or hurricane deductible.
• Whether you have coverage for flooding.

Write down important information for each insurance policy and keep it somewhere you can access it during an emergency: Facts to Keep Handy about Your Insurance Policy | Mass.gov. Include your insurance agent’s and insurance company’s phone numbers in your emergency contacts. Keep this information with your emergency supplies in case you need to evacuate and do not have time to retrieve your insurance policies.

Creating a Home Inventory

Inventory and photograph your personal property including model numbers, serial numbers and purchase information. The NAIC Home Inventory Checklist is a helpful tool. Consider backing up your inventory by videotaping or photographing each room in your house and storing this visual record either in a weather-proof safe or outside your home. 

Familiarize yourself with your community’s emergency plan and prepare an emergency supplies kit. Be sure to include a disposable camera (in case you can't charge your phone), and a notebook and pens for use in documenting your losses. 

Take Steps to Minimize Damages

When the weather is nice, take the time to look around your home and property and consider the following to help minimize potential damages that can result from a storm:

• Trim trees back from your house and away from power lines. Cut branches that are dead, dying, diseased, or broken. Make sure there aren't any tree limbs hanging over your home or cars.
• Clear walkways and driveways of hazards. In winter, shovel snow and apply salt or sand to prevent ice buildup, and use non-slip mats near entryways to help prevent falls.
• Keep your roof, gutters, downspouts, and chimney maintained and in good working order. Consider the last time your roof was inspected by a professional.
• Properly insulate water pipes to prevent freezing. Seal leaks or cracks around pipes.
• Have a battery back-up for any electric smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Check the heating system and make sure heat is being delivered to all vents. Have your furnace or boiler serviced regularly and replace air filters. 
• Keep the dryer vent unobstructed. 
• Secure outdoor furniture and other loose items.
• Consider storm shutters or pre-cut covers for all windows.
• Clear debris, like leaves and sticks, from gutters and downspouts to help water flow.
• Install gutter guards to prevent debris build-up.
• Check for drafts around doors and windows and seal them with weatherstripping or caulk. Have a professional evaluation of the insulation and ventilation in your home. 
• Interior and exterior pipes, such as irrigation lines and garden hoses still attached to the home, are at risk.  Detach garden hoses and irrigation lines from your home.