Storms

• What a standard policy covers  

  • Your home – Pays for damage to the home’s structure caused by covered perils, such as fire, wind, hail, and lightning.  

  • Other structures – Covers detached structures like garages, sheds, and fences.  

  • Personal property – Protects personal belongings, such as furniture, electronics, and clothing, against theft or damage from covered perils.  

  • Liability – Provides protection if someone is injured on your property and you are found responsible.  

  • Additional Living Expenses (ALE)/Loss of Use – Pays for temporary living costs if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event.  

• Flood Damage – Homeowners insurance does not cover flooding; separate flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is required. Visit FloodSmart.gov for more information.  

• Sewer Backup – Damage from sewer or sump pump backup is not covered unless a specific endorsement is added.  

• High-Value Items – Standard policies may have limits on jewelry, art, and collectibles, requiring additional riders for full coverage.  

• Neglect & Maintenance Issues – Damage caused by wear and tear, mold, or pest infestations is typically excluded.  

• Business-Related Losses – If you operate a home business, standard policies may not cover business equipment or liability. These losses may be covered by a separate policy.  

• Earthquakes & Land Movement – Damage from earthquakes, sinkholes, or landslides requires separate coverage. 

• A standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover floods.   

• Benefits  

  • Financial protection. Flood insurance helps cover repairs, including structural damage, flooring, electrical systems, and personal belongings.  

  • Coverage beyond federal disaster assistance. FEMA and state disaster assistance is often limited and only available if there is a formal disaster declaration. Flood insurance pays for damage regardless of disaster declarations, providing a more reliable safety net.  

  • Affordable compared to out-of-pocket costs. The average NFIP policy in Minnesota costs about $950 per year, but flood repairs can easily exceed $50,000. In addition, homeowners not in high-risk areas may qualify for lower-cost policies that still provide protection.  

  • Protects home equity and property value. Minnesota homes in low-lying or river-adjacent areas face repeated flooding risks, which can decrease property values. Having flood insurance ensures you can repair your home without taking on massive debt, keeping your investment secure.  

  • Protects against the unexpected. Minnesota experiences rapid snowmelt, spring floods, and heavy rains that can lead to flash flooding. Even homes outside designated flood zones can suffer damage, making flood insurance worth considering.  

• Safety first 

  • If your home is flooded, make sure you and your family are safe. 

  • If the floodwaters are rising rapidly or pose a threat to your safety, leave your home immediately and go to higher ground. 

  • If it’s safe to do so, turn off the electricity and gas supply to your home to prevent electrical hazards and gas leaks. 

  • Stay away from electrical outlets and downed power lines. 

• Begin the recovery process 

  • Once the floodwaters have receded and it's safe to re-enter your home, assess the damage. 

  • Documentation and reporting of any damage incurred by water/storm events is crucial for any possible claims or financial assistance.   

    • Before cleanup begins, make sure to take photos or videos of the damage.   

  • Take steps to minimize further damage.   

    • Dry out flooded areas with ventilation from fans or by opening windows.   

    • Pull back carpet and furniture items to prevent mold from developing. 

  • Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to determine if you have coverage and, if so, start the claims process. 

  • For extensive flood damage, consider a professional restoration company to help with the cleanup and drying process. 

  • Minnesota’s division of Homeland Security Emergency Management advises: If your home or business has received significant damages from a major weather or other event - report it to your local county or city emergency management office for assistance as soon as possible. 

  • If the President declares a federal disaster and authorizes Individual Assistance, FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (IHP) can help qualified homeowners and renters affected by the disaster with housing repair and other necessary expenses. www.DisasterAssistance.gov 

• Following mitigation steps, reach out to your insurer to determine your coverage and begin the claims process if applicable.   

  • If significant damage has occurred, report your damage to local emergency management officials for assistance.   

  • Some significant damage may be applicable for FEMA financial assistance, depending on several factors. 

• Carefully make temporary repairs to prevent further damage (like installing tarps over leaky roofs) so long as the work can be done without risk to yourself or others.   

• Contact your insurer or agent as soon as possible after the event.  

• Document with photos and video, and note the extent of the damage and losses.   

• Keep receipts of anything spent on storm cleanup, temporary repairs or emergency housing. Many such expenses may be reimbursable under a standard homeowner’s policy.   

• Don't rush to sign repair contracts. Do your homework, deal with reputable contractors and get references. Check the licensing status of any contractor with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.  

• If your home is uninhabitable because of storm damage, your homeowners or renters insurance likely provides coverage for additional living expenses such as hotel bills or meals out. Contact your agent or insurer to understand your coverage, and save all related receipts. 

• File your claim  

  • Safety First - Ensure everyone is safe and follow local evacuation orders and any guidance from emergency management officials. Don’t re-enter your property until authorities say it is safe.   

  • Contact your insurance company ASAP - Call your insurer or agent to report the damage, and review your policy’s limits, deductibles, and exclusions. Request your claim number and the name of your assigned claims adjuster. Ask about next steps, temporary housing coverage, and deadlines.   

  • Document damage - Take clear photos and videos of all damaged structures and personal belongings. If safe, try to document the condition of the property before cleaning or repairs begin. Make a list of damaged or destroyed items, including estimated value, brand, model, and purchase date, if known.   

  • Prevent further damage - If the home or cabin is partially damaged, take reasonable steps to secure the property like covering holes or boarding windows. Emergency repairs and protective measures may be covered by your policy, so keep receipts.   

  • Save receipts for expenses - Document all costs related to the loss, including:  

    • Temporary lodging and meals   

    • Transportation   

    • Pet boarding   

• Replacement purchases for necessities - Contact your insurer to learn which expenses may be covered under your Additional Living Expenses (ALE) policy provision.   

• Work with the claims adjuster - Be available to meet with the adjuster and provide all requested information. This is a good time to share your documentation and inventory list, keeping a copy for your records. Also ask for a copy of the adjuster's report when it’s ready.  

• Don’t rush to hire a contractor - After natural disasters, contractors may flood the affected area. While many are reputable, others are not.  

  • Take time to verify credentials, check references, and get multiple estimates before signing a contract.  

  • Be cautious of high-pressure sales tactics or demands for large upfront payments.  

  • Work only with licensed, insured, and locally established professionals to avoid scams or unfinished work.  

Do your homework before work begins on your home

Unfortunately, storm damage often brings storm-scamming contractors who make promises that are too good to be true. They use high-pressure tactics to lock homeowners into predatory contracts before an insurance adjuster even arrives.

To prevent storm-scamming abuse, the IFM suggests homeowners contact reputable local roofing and siding professionals, rather than depend on advice given by door-to-door or telephone solicitors.

Often telephone marketers or the people who come to the door aren’t even qualified to be roofers, they are just sales lead generators who get paid selling your personal information to contractors. Many of these contractors themselves don’t even do the actual work.

Some storm-scamming contractors either rent a license from a local roofing contractor or work without one, subcontracting the work to crews to finish the job.

Avoiding contractor fraud and recovery headaches

• Before signing a contract with a contractor ask for:

  • The contractor's license number.

  • How long they've been in business.

  • A Minnesota business address other than a post office box, and a local phone number.

• The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry helps “homeowners ensure the construction industry professional they have hired is licensed, and if something goes wrong, investigate complaints.”

  • Check on the licensing status of a residential building contractor, along with any enforcement actions on the DLI website.

  • DLI investigates complaints to determine whether violations of the state laws and rules governing the construction industry have occurred. Homeowners can learn more about the process and file a complaint online.

  • Homeowners can check the contractor's litigation history on the state court system's website.

• The Minnesota Attorney General’s office reminds homeowners not to fall for high-pressure tactics. Scammers try to trick you into acting immediately. “Legitimate companies that want your business allow you time to think about the offer, research your options, and shop around. It should raise red flags if a door-to-door salesman pressures you to make an immediate decision or pay cash in advance.”

• Some of the unscrupulous behavior to look out for, according to IFM, includes a promise to get you more repair work done than appears necessary or an offer to pay your deductible.

• Avoid contractors who:

  • Arrive in an unmarked vehicle.

  • Ask to sign an estimate or authorization before you have decided to hire them. You may unknowingly be signing a contract.

  • Are willing to do the job at an unusually low price.

  • Offer to pay your deductible or offer discounts or other rewards for hiring them.

  • Require full or substantial payment before work begins.

  • Refuse to provide a written estimate or contract.

Don't let a fast-talking solicitor at your doorstep turn a weather event into a long-term financial disaster. Do your homework before work begins on your home. 

If a Tree Falls on a House

• In most cases, the affected homeowner’s policypays. If your neighbor’s healthy oak blows down onto your roof during a storm, you file the claim with your own homeowners insurance under your dwelling coverage. You are responsible for your deductible.

• If the neighbor was provably negligent, the neighbor’s policypays. To establish negligence, the tree must have been visibly dead, rotted, or structurally compromised, and the neighbor must have failed to address it. Having written documentation (such as a certified letter or prior arborist assessment alerting them to the hazard before the fall) is usually required. In that scenario, your insurer will likely pay your claim first, then pursue the neighbor's insurer to recover the costs, including your deductible.

• Most policies cover the cost to haul away the portion of the tree that damaged an insured structure.

If a Tree Falls on a Car

• Even if a car is parked in a driveway or attached garage, damage to the vehicle is handled exclusively by an auto insurance policy, specifically under comprehensive coverage. Homeowners insurance will cover damage to the garage or driveway, but never the vehicle itself.

• If the damaged vehicle belongs to a visitor, the car owner's auto policy pays, not the property owners policy.

• As with home damage, the neighbor’s homeowners liability coverage would only respond if you can prove their negligence (a known dead tree left unaddressed) directly caused the damage to your vehicle.

If a Tree Falls Without Causing Property Damage

• Homeowners policies insure structures, not landscaping or routine yard maintenance. When a tree falls cleanly onto an open yard, lawn, or woods without striking a covered structure, insurance adjusters classify it as a maintenance issue rather than an insurable loss.

• If a healthy or dead tree blows down on your property without causing damage, the homeowner is entirely responsible for hiring a tree service or cutting and clearing the debris out of pocket.

• If a neighbor’s tree topples during a storm and lands cleanly across your lawn without damaging anything, you are legally responsible for removing the portion lying on your side of the boundary line. You cannot force the neighbor or their insurer to clean your yard.

• A neighbor cannot enter your property to chop or haul wood without your explicit permission, nor can you dump the wood back over their fence line

Protect Yourself from Price Gouging

• After a severe storm, high demand for immediate cleanup often attracts predatory solicitors and unlicensed operators looking to take advantage of stressed property owners.

• Minnesota law makes it illegal for tree trimmers to take advantage of property ownersfollowing a storm by jacking up their prices or charging extra if insurance is paying the bill. The state Attorney General investigates these illegal practices, and companies that rip off storm victims can be fined up to $1,000 per violation and up to $25,000 a day.

Tips for Hiring a Reputable Tree Service

• Homeowners insurance will not pay for tree removal unless an insured structure is damaged. Beware of any solicitor claiming "insurance will cover everything." Call your agent or company first to verify your coverage before signing any paperwork.

• Ensure the tree trimmer is registered, carries commercial general liability and workers' compensation coverage, and maintains a verifiable, physical Minnesota business address—not just an out-of-state plate or temporary P.O. box. Learn more from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

• Do not sign an "estimate," "work order," or blank authorization form before you are ready to hire. You could unknowingly sign a legally binding contract with inflated rates. Insist on an itemized, written quote covering cutting, stump grinding, and hauling.

• Walk away from any tree trimmer who demands large upfront cash payments before work begins or offers to "waive" or cover your insurance deductible. Covering deductibles is insurance fraud.