Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tornado Damage?
Understand your coverage before, during, and after the storm.
Tornado damage is covered under a standard Lemonade Homeowners policy as a windstorm, one of the named perils your policy explicitly covers.
Recent tornadoes tore through Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. If your home was in the path of the storm, here’s what you’re covered for and what to do next.
TL;DR
- Tornado damage is covered under your policy as a windstorm, one of the named perils Lemonade covers for both homeowners and renters.
- Power outages alone are not covered. Loss of Use only kicks in if physical damage makes your home unlivable.
- Flooding and car damage are excluded from home and renters policies, flood needs its own separate policy, and car damage falls under car insurance.
- Keep every receipt if you’re displaced. You’re reimbursed for what you actually spend above your normal costs, up to your policy limit.Yes. Tornado damage is covered under a standard Lemonade Homeowners policy as a windstorm, one of the named perils your policy explicitly covers.Recent tornadoes tore through Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. If your home was in the path of the storm, here’s what you’re covered for and what to do next.
Is damage caused by a tornado covered by homeowners insurance?
In short, yes. Individual circumstances can vary, so it’s always worth reviewing your own policy, but here’s the general picture.
Tornadoes are classified as a windstorm, which is one of the named perils on your policy. That means it’s a covered event. Keep in mind you’ll have a deductible to pay, and your policy comes with coverage limits based on what you chose when you signed up.
Windstorms include tornadoes, high winds, cyclones, and hurricanes.
Common tornado damage to your home: Roof damage, shattered windows and sliding doors, garage door damage, and siding damage would all likely be covered under your homeowners policy.
Damage to your personal belongings can be covered too, depending on the cause. For instance, if a tornado causes a partial roof collapse that leads to damage to your electronics, appliances, or furniture, those items would be eligible for coverage.
Exceptions to coverage
A couple of important exclusions to know about:
Flooding. Standard homeowners policies don’t cover flood damage, even if it’s caused by a tornado. This is less of a concern with tornadoes than hurricanes, but it’s worth understanding. Flood coverage requires a separate policy. You can read more about that here.
Your car. Vehicles aren’t considered personal property under a homeowners policy. If a tornado knocks a tree onto your car, that’s a claim for your auto insurance, not your home insurance.
Key tornado insurance terms, defined
Insurance policies are full of specific language that’s confusing in the best of times, let alone after a storm. Here’s a plain-English breakdown of the terms you’re most likely to encounter when filing a tornado-related claim.
Named perils
A named peril is a specific type of damage your policy explicitly agrees to cover. Windstorms, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and cyclones, are a named peril on most standard homeowners policies. If the damage came from something not on that list, like flooding, it won’t be covered.
Windstorm coverage
Windstorm coverage protects your home and belongings from damage caused by high-velocity winds, including tornadoes, straight-line winds, cyclones, and hurricanes. Under a standard Lemonade homeowners policy, windstorm coverage applies to both structural damage and personal property damage. Note that some states, particularly coastal ones, may have a separate windstorm deductible or require a separate windstorm policy.
Deductible
Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. If a tornado causes $10,000 in roof damage and your deductible is $1,000, your insurer pays $9,000. In high-risk areas, some policies use a percentage-based windstorm deductible instead of a flat dollar amount, for example 2% of your home’s insured value. On a $300,000 home, that’s $6,000 out of pocket before coverage applies.
Loss of use coverage
Loss of use, also called additional living expenses (ALE), covers your temporary living costs if your home becomes unlivable due to a covered event. If tornado damage forces you to relocate temporarily, loss of use can reimburse hotel stays, meals above your normal spending, and other necessary costs. It does not apply to power outages alone. Physical, covered damage to the structure must be the reason you can’t stay home.
Personal property coverage
Personal property means the things you own: furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances, and more. Homeowners insurance includes personal property coverage, so tornado damage to your belongings can be claimed alongside any structural damage to the home itself.
Actual cash value vs. replacement cost value
How your insurer calculates your payout depends on your policy type.
- Actual cash value (ACV) reimburses what your item was worth at the time of the loss, factoring in depreciation. A five-year-old laptop would be reimbursed at its current used value, not the cost of a new one.
- Replacement cost value (RCV) covers what it actually costs to replace the item with a new equivalent. RCV policies typically come with higher premiums but give you more complete coverage after a major loss.
Can I file a Loss of Use claim when my power goes out due to bad weather?
Your loss of use coverage can help if your home becomes unlivable due to a covered event, and windstorms are covered. But here’s the important distinction:
A power outage alone, without physical damage to your home, is not enough to trigger loss of use. Outages happen all the time due to storms, and policies don’t cover displacement from a power outage unless there’s also actual damage to the structure.
Spoiled groceries from a power outage aren’t covered either.
That said, if your home lost power and sustained structural damage from the tornado that made it genuinely unsafe to stay, that’s a different situation. In that case, loss of use can cover your hotel, extra food costs, and other additional expenses while repairs are underway. Keep your receipts either way.
How to protect your home from tornadoes?
If you live in a tornado-prone area, there’s a lot you can do before, during, and after a storm to limit damage and stay safe.
In the months and weeks before storm season
Most U.S. tornadoes happen March through June, but they’ve been recorded every month of the year. With climate change making extreme weather less predictable, it’s worth getting prepared early.
- Reinforce your roof. Have a professional install hurricane clips inside your roof structure. This helps prevent the roof from being lifted off in high winds. If it’s nearing or past its expected lifespan, make a plan to replace your roof.
- Reinforce your windows. Install temporary storm shutters, have permanent ones put in, or upgrade to impact-resistant windows.
- Secure your cabinets. Child-proof latches or sliding bolts can prevent cabinet doors from flying open.
- Anchor large furniture. Keep your bookcases or closets attached to the wall using furniture anchors.
The Red Cross also has some terrific information about how to prep for a possible power outage in advance of catastrophic weather.
Immediately before a tornado
If a tornado is imminent, get to a basement or interior stairwell, or any room without windows, and stay there. If you have a few days’ warning:
- Clear your yard. Bring in lawn furniture and any loose items that could become airborne projectiles.
- Trim dangerous branches. Dead or dying branches can be ripped off trees and launched at homes. Remove anything near power lines too.
- Gather your documents. Collect your deed, Social Security cards, birth certificates, passports, bank info, and insurance policies. With Lemonade, your policy is accessible directly in the app, so you’re covered there.
After a tornado
Even after the storm has cleared, your home is still at risk, especially if it was damaged in the tornado’s path.
- If your lights are flickering, dimming, or buzzing. You might have electrical damage. Find your fuse box and turn off the power to avoid electrical fires and other electricity-related incidents.
- If you smell gas. Your gas tank might be damaged. Immediately turn off the main valve and keep yourself and your family away from your gas source as much as possible until a professional arrives.
- If your running water is discolored or low-pressure. You may have a broken water line. Prevent flooding and water damage by shutting off the main meter (near the street), and the water line that leads to your house.
What other resources do I have available to me?
The Red Cross has set up Open Shelters around the affected areas, where anyone can seek out a safe place to sleep, as well as access to food, medical services, laundry, childcare, and more.
Tornado insurance FAQs
A tornado just damaged my home and the power is out. Can I get a hotel room covered by insurance?
Possibly, yes. If your home has physical tornado damage that makes it unsafe or unlivable, your loss of use coverage can reimburse you for a hotel stay. A power outage alone doesn’t qualify, but if there’s roof damage, broken windows, or other structural damage making it genuinely unsafe to stay, you’re likely covered. Keep your receipts and document everything before you leave.
My home is unlivable after a tornado. How do I start a Loss of Use claim with my insurance?
Here’s what to do right away:
- Document the damage. Take photos and videos of everything before moving anything.
- File your claim. With Lemonade, you can file directly through the app. The sooner you file, the sooner things move forward.
- Track every expense. Save receipts for your hotel, meals above your normal spending, laundry, transportation, and anything else you’re spending because you can’t be home.
- Stay in touch with your adjuster. They’ll confirm whether your situation qualifies for loss of use and let you know what’s covered.
Your loss of use coverage reimburses the extra costs above what you’d normally spend, up to your policy limit. It doesn’t pay a flat daily rate, so receipts really do matter.
I smell gas and my lights are buzzing after a tornado touchdown. What should I shut off first?
Gas first. A gas leak is the more immediate danger. Turn off the main gas valve, get everyone out of the house, and don’t go back in until a professional clears it. Then, if it’s safe to do so, cut the power at your fuse box. Don’t try to handle both at the same time, and don’t re-enter a structurally damaged home until it’s been inspected.
Does standard homeowners insurance cover a partial roof collapse caused by tornado winds?
Yes. A partial roof collapse from tornado winds falls under windstorm coverage, a named peril on standard homeowners policies. The structural damage is covered, and so are any personal belongings damaged as a direct result, like furniture or electronics hit by debris or water that got in. Your deductible applies, and the payout is based on your dwelling coverage limit.
Should I turn off my main water valve after a tornado if my water pressure drops?
Yes. Low pressure or discolored water after a tornado can signal a broken water line inside or between your home and the street meter. Shutting off the main valve stops further flooding and water damage while you wait for a professional. Your main shutoff is typically near the street or where the water line enters your home. It’s worth knowing where it is before you ever need it.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of the policies issued, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states. Please note that statements about coverages, policy management, claims processes, Giveback, and customer support apply to policies underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company or Metromile Insurance Company, a Lemonade company, sold by Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC. The statements do not apply to policies underwritten by other carriers.
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