Paul Fisher Insurance Services LLC

Winter-Related Damage Causes Over A Billion Dollars In Losses Each Year

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Many winter-related disasters can be prevented if you take a few simple steps to protect your home from freezing temperatures, snow and wind. With the weather still mild, autumn is the perfect time to winter-proof your home, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

“Standard homeowners policies cover winter-related disasters such as burst pipes, ice dams, and wind damage caused by weight of ice or snow, as well as fire-related losses,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. “Coverage for flooding is available from the National Flood Insurance Program and from some private insurance companies. Winter-related damage to cars is generally covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.”

Melting snow can inflict significant damage to property, and winter storms are the third-largest cause of catastrophe losses, noted the I.I.I. In fact, according to the Insurance Services Office, winter storms accounted for 7.4 percent of catastrophe losses nationwide from 1990 to 2009, or an average of $1.25 billion per year (in 2009 dollars) with the average homeowners insurance claim for water damage and freezing coming to $5,896.

The Farmers’ Almanac predicts that “the eastern third of the country, (New England down to Florida and as far west as the lower Ohio River and Mississippi River Valley), will experience colder-than-normal winter temperatures. Across New England, where relatively balmy temperatures prevailed during the winter of 2009-2010, the upcoming winter will be the equivalent of a cold slap in the face, as we forecast much colder-than-normal temperatures.”

To prepare your home for the upcoming winter, the I.I.I. offers the following tips:

Outside Your Home

via It’s Going to Be a Cold, Cold Winter-Is Your Home Properly Winter-Proofed? | PR Newswire | Find Articles at BNET.