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Windstorm catastrophe
Windstorm
My client’s home is insured on a basic peril dwelling policy form (in the FAIR Plan). While they were away in Florida for three weeks during the March storms, wind came down the flue and blew out the pilot light on the furnace, causing the furnace to become inoperable and the pipes to freeze, then burst, causing damage within the home. The FAIR Plan denied the coverage, saying the proximate cause of loss was “windstorm.” Further, they stated, the peril of “windstorm” is not covered for damage to the inside of a building or its contents unless the direct force of the wind damages the building, allowing the elements to get inside. Is this correct?
Homeowner’s loss of use after windstorm power outage
If an insured homeowner loses power for a period of time, say two weeks, can they claim additional living expenses although no property on their premises was damaged by the windstorm?
Spoilage after a power outage
If an insured homeowner loses power for a period of time, can they claim for spoiled refrigerated items although no property on their premises was damaged by the windstorm?
Named-storm deductibles
Recently, a winter storm was given a “name” by a news station. I have sold policies that contain “named storm deductibles.” What does this mean for my clients—are they at risk of being hit with a deductible they were not expecting?