If you own a property near the coast, it is essential that you have a shoreline home insurance plan. Each policy may differ moderately, but typically, homeowner’s insurance for people located near water shares similar policies that are geared toward protecting your home from coastline-related damage. Muller Insurance serves clients in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and other states. Here, we walk you through the ins and outs of shoreline home insurance and whether wind damage is accounted for in most plans.
Standard Home Insurance vs. Shoreline Home Insurance
Insurance for shore properties provides coverage for events that are more likely to occur near the coast than in other areas, accounting for the differences between inland and coastal properties. For example, a home on the shore may be more apt to experience damage due to a tropical storm or hurricane than a home further inland. A waterfront insurance policy will take into account damage from specific coast-related events, such as:
- Flood damage
- Hurricane damage
- Tsunami damage
- Results of heavy rainfall or thunderstorms
Those who live 10 miles or less from the coast should obtain supplemental shoreline home insurance that accounts for unique needs. Usually, standard homeowners’ insurance becomes insufficient for these properties.
Wind Damage as a Risk of Coastal Living
While a coastal property can be a great investment, a fast-approaching and unplanned natural disaster can cost you a lot of money. A shoreline property comes with the risk of potential losses from coastal catastrophes. Nationwide, floods tend to be the most common cause of coastal property damage, but things like hurricanes, storms, erosion, and landslides are also potential risks. Additionally, weather events along the coast often come with high winds.
Since it tends to be windy at the beach or near the ocean, a home by the water is naturally at an increased risk for wind damage. Wind damage can harm your home and personal belongings, as it can rip limbs from trees and carry other debris, which can then damage windows, roofing, and even the foundation. For this reason, it is important to discuss with your insurance provider whether wind damage is covered. Even though most policies that cover damage from hurricanes and other storms may come with wind damage included, high winds that are not a direct result of such a storm still pose a liability.
Types of Wind Damage
When it comes to discussing specific wind damage coverage with your insurance provider, be sure to ask about several possible scenarios. This is helpful because not all policies cover every type of wind damage, and some may exclude coverage for specific types of storms. The different types of wind damage and the risks they pose include:
Straight-Line Winds
Straight-line winds are winds that move horizontally along the ground and are not associated with a tornado. The most common type of damage resulting from straight-line winds includes blown debris, which may lead to minor structural damage. These winds can be generated by a variety of weather events, from large storm systems spanning several hundred miles to smaller individual thunderstorms.
Tornado Winds
Tornadoes form when rotation within a thunderstorm updraft creates a spinning vortex that has made contact with the ground. Tornadic winds tend to travel short distances but yield destructive forces throughout that path.
Hurricane Winds
Hurricanes offer the most common type of wind hazard to shoreline properties. This is because they form in tropical regions and get their fuel from warm ocean water. The wind speeds in a hurricane usually diminish as you move further away from the eyewall, but properties near the water are bound to be close to the eyewall.
Find a Specialized Shoreline Home Insurance Provider with Muller Insurance
At Muller Insurance, we work with a wide variety of specialized insurance providers across several states, including those experienced in shoreline home insurance policies. Due to the importance of wind damage coverage for coastal homes, Muller Insurance will work hard to provide you with the ideal plan and other add-ons that meet the unique needs of your property. Instead of umbrella insurance, take that out
If you own a shoreline property New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, or another state and are looking for a reputable and knowledgeable shoreline home insurance provider, look no further than Muller Insurance. For more information on the available bundling opportunities that can help save you money, get a quote today. New Jersey or and other state – remove other states.
