Good Question: Does Insurance Cover Freak Weather Damage?
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - The cell phone video of a wall of ice marching towards Izatys Resort on Lake Mille Lacs is amazing. The slow-motion avalanche pierced the wall of at least one home.
When the weather gets crazy, does insurance cover it?
Troy Thompson, an agent with Pinnacle Insurance Agency in Coon Rapids, says "yes" In the case of the ice tsunami.
"You'd definitely be covered, because wind made the damage," Thompson said.
Much like the winds of a tornado tossing objects into homes and causing damage, the winds from the ice tsunami destroyed at least two boat houses, and sent ice inside at least one resort condo along Lake Mille Lacs.
The same phenomenon hit a lake in Manitoba, Canada - destroying six homes and damaging 14 others.
"Wind is a named peril, which means it's covered by your insurance company," he said.
Floods are the only weather event generally not covered by standard homeowner's insurance. Lightning, tornados and hail damage are all covered.
"Things like falling objects may not be covered, like meteors," he said.
In Minnesota, earthquakes are extremely rare - but they have happened. If one hits your home, Thompson says insurance will not cover the damage.
