The most common natural disasters in Illinois are heavy rain, strong winds, lightning, and hail. It's important to make sure that your insurance coverage is up to par to protect you from these destructive storms before it's too late. That means double-checking your storm insurance.

Fortunately an Illinois independent insurance agent can help you get equipped with all the storm insurance you need to protect your home. They'll also get you covered long before it's time to file a claim. But first, here's a closer look at how to get insured against storms.

What Is Illinois Storm Insurance?

Illinois storm insurance provides protection for your property if it gets damaged by a covered natural disaster. This coverage is actually included in your Illinois homeowners insurance, and protects your home's structure and your personal belongings. So, if your home or other property gets hit by a covered storm event, that section of your home insurance policy should provide reimbursement.

What Does Storm Insurance Cover in Illinois?

Storm insurance is meant to protect you and your home from many common natural disasters. The storm protection included in your homeowners insurance often covers these types of storm damage:

• Lightning
• Fire
• Hail
• Heavy winds
• Rain or snow blown by wind

The storm coverage section of your homeowners insurance also often covers things that result from natural disasters, such as a tree that falls on your property after getting struck by lightning. To be extra-sure of what your storm insurance covers, review your homeowners policy with the help of your Illinois independent insurance agent.

Storm Stats for Illinois

If you live in Illinois, it's helpful to know which types of natural disasters are common in your area. Check out some stats for storms and severe weather in Illinois, so you can better prepare your home and other property from potential damage and destruction.

Knowing which types of natural disasters strike your area most frequently can be extremely beneficial when considering your insurance coverages.

What's Not Covered by Illinois Storm Insurance?

Though the storm coverage portion of your homeowners policy protects against many types of natural disasters, there are still a couple of exclusions. Flood damage and earthquake damage are never covered by homeowners insurance. To protect your home against natural floodwater damage, you'd need a separate flood insurance policy.

To protect your home against damage caused by earthquakes, landslides, etc., you'd need to get a separate earthquake insurance or earth movement policy. Your Illinois independent insurance agent can help you get set up with all the insurance you need to be protected against all types of storms.

Is My Car Protected from Storm Damage in Illinois?

Illinois requires a few types of car insurance by state law, including bodily injury liability and property damage liability, as well as uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage. If you only choose the state's minimum car insurance requirements, your vehicle won't be protected against storm damage. 

To protect your car against storms, you'd need to purchase comprehensive car insurance, otherwise known as "other than collision" insurance. Comprehensive car insurance protects your vehicle from:

• Fire and flood damage
• Collisions with large animals
• Vandalism and theft
• Windshield breakage
• Storm damage
• Falling objects

Be sure to speak with your Illinois independent insurance agent about adding comprehensive coverage to your car insurance policy. That way your vehicle will be protected, not only against storm damage, but also many other common threats as well.

Does Illinois Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Removal after a Storm?

The removal of a fallen tree after a storm might be covered by your Illinois homeowners insurance, but not necessarily always. If the tree hits an insured structure on your property, your homeowners insurance will probably cover the removal up to a limit of $500-$1,000.

However, if the tree didn't hit an insured structure, you might not be covered for its removal. One more thing to consider is if the fallen tree blocks a driveway. In that case, your homeowners insurance might pay for its removal after all, but it's important to double-check your specific policy to be sure.

How an Illinois Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You

Independent insurance agents are fully equipped to protect homeowners against commonly faced disasters. Illinois independent insurance agents shop multiple carriers to find providers who specialize in storm insurance. 

They can deliver quotes from a number of different sources and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.