Texas is no stranger to severe weather, and storm damage restoration is a regular requirement. As the nation’s second-largest state, Texas experiences raging storms throughout the year, including Texas panhandle blizzards and drought conditions from triple-digit heat. It wreaks havoc on homes and commercial buildings, occasionally leading to extensive damage and inevitable professional intervention.
What Storm Damage Restoration Coverage Does a Homeowners’ Insurance Policy Cover?
SERVPRO is a leading water damage contractor in Texas, handling residential and commercial water damage with years of experience. Homeowners’ insurance for residents in the state may provide coverage for storm damage restoration under specific conditions. The experts at SERVPRO of Carrollton, SERVPRO of Bent Tree explore the options in more detail.
Texas Winter Storm Damage Restoration
A massive winter storm in February 2021 killed over 100 people and left millions of Texans without power. The weather caused extensive water damages to properties around the state, with hundreds of households needing water removal services from professionals like SERVPRO.
Homeowners’ insurance is one of the best ways to cover storm damage restoration services during an emergency. However, many policies will not cover all losses. The cause of the property loss or damage must come from a covered event that the policy explicitly names to receive assistance from the insurance company.
Most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies include perils that the contract will cover, such as freezes, hail, and fire damage. Other policies cover all perils except those named within the contract, leaving more room for interpreting the damage. For instance, water cleanup from a burst pipe could fall under named perils like “freezing” or “sudden cracking.”
Burst Pipes and Water Damage Restoration
If an insurance policy names water damage in its list of covered perils, it’s possible to file a claim for events like a burst pipe from frozen plumbing. The coverage should include repairs and cleanup from a water damage specialist. It may even consist of carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, upholstery cleaning, and plumbing and drywall repair.
Spoiled Food Restitution
Food spoilage from power outages is also usually allowable in standard home insurance policies. Coverage amounts vary, depending on the fine print. If a contract includes a deductible on spoiled food claims, it may be best to cover the expenses for the loss without assistance from the insurance agency.
Alternative Living Expenses
If storms force temporary relocation while the home undergoes emergency water restoration, insurance may offer recompense for the inconvenience. If it is impossible to live in the house due to storm damage restoration, homeowners’ insurance will sometimes offer displacement expenses for alternative living, such as a hotel room.
Insurance companies define an “inhabitable” building in the policy details. It may differ from a policy holder’s assumptions, so it is always best to contact the company for clarity if residents must leave home during repairs. For example, most policies do not afford this coverage to displaced homeowners due to power outages.
Professionals like SERVPRO
When there is extensive damage to a home or business, there’s no better way to recover than using the exceptional services of professionals like SERVPRO of Carrollton, SERVPRO of Bent Tree. Their coverage ranges from complete storm damage restoration to mattress cleaning, area rug cleaning, and tile cleaning. The company’s residential and commercial cleaning service has a team of dedicated restoration specialists who provide 24-hour emergency service in and around Dallas.
Contact the SERVPRO team today at (972) 446-0383 or follow them on Facebook to receive the latest company news. They work from their offices in 3033 Kellway Drive Suite 124, Carrollton, TX, 75006.
