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• Does Home Insurance Cover Tornado Damage in Illinois?
• What Policy Is Needed for Tornado Damage to Be Covered?
• What Types of Damage Can a Tornado Cause in Illinois?
• How to Prevent Tornado Damage to Your Illinois Home
• What to Do after a Tornado Hits Your Home in Illinois
• Tornado and Disaster Statistics
• How an Illinois Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You

Does Home Insurance Cover Tornado Damage in Illinois?

In short, yes. All Illinois homeowners insurance policies will have tornadoes and other severe weather events as named perils. Every homeowners policy has coverage for natural disasters, with the exception of floods. For that, you'll need a separate flood insurance policy. 

There are three different home policy types, basic, broad, and special form. All three will have coverage for tornadoes. To make sure you have the right limits, speak with your local adviser. 

What Policy Is Needed for Tornado Damage to Be Covered?

If you have an Illinois homeowners policy, you'll already have coverage for a tornado up to the policy limits. It's vital to have your personal policies reviewed regularly by a trained professional. This will help you avoid any gaps in coverage and make sure that you have sufficient limits. If you have to file a tornado claim, you want to have enough protection to pay for the loss. 

What Types of Damage Can a Tornado Cause in Illinois?

Tornadoes are a force of nature that cannot be controlled. If you live in the US, severe weather is frequent and it's good to be prepared. There is no telling exactly what type of damage a tornado can do. Here are a few losses that could occur due to a tornado in Illinois:

• Roof damage
• Siding damage
• Structural damage
• Personal property damage
• Bodily injury

How to Prevent Tornado Damage to Your Illinois Home

While you can't fully prepare for a major disaster, it's good to be as proactive as possible. There are some things you can do to better equip your Illinois home for tornado season. Check out some common things to look into:

• Consider obtaining storm doors
• Have extra-durable windows
• Purchase a metal roof
• Install steel siding
• Have stone-coated steel shingles

While some of these may be out of the question, it's worth a conversation. Speak with a professional about these and other ways to protect your home from severe weather. The safer you make your structure, the less you'll pay for premiums.

What to Do after a Tornado Hits Your Home in Illinois

If you're the victim of a tornado, there will be many moving parts all at once. First, you'll want to tend to any injuries and make sure everyone is okay. To ensure that you're not going it alone, have an action plan in place so that you know what comes next. Here are four easy steps to consider when a tornado loss occurs:

• Step 1: Get to a safe place.
• Step 2: Call your independent insurance agent.
• Step 3: Obtain temporary housing paid for by insurance.
• Step 4: Set up a meeting with your assigned adjuster to go over damage and loss. 

Tornado and Disaster Statistics

Tornado insurance is necessary no matter where you live. Fortunately, your Illinois homeowners insurance policy will automatically have coverage for tornados and other natural disasters. Let's look at the numbers:

• Number of tornadoes in the US annually: 1,000
• Number of tornadoes in Illinois annually: 54

Deadliest tornadoes in the US

Tornadoes and other severe weather will be encountered at some point in your life, it's just a matter of when. The best way to be proactive is with proper protection in place. 

How an Illinois Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You

In Illinois, your homeowners insurance is protecting what is probably your largest asset. The wrong coverage could mean the difference between you paying out of pocket for a loss and having it paid by your insurance company. Instead of going it alone, consider using a licensed professional for your Illinois home insurance policy. 

An Illinois independent insurance agent can help you find coverage that won't break the bank. They review your policies for free so that you know you're getting the right coverage beforehand. Connect with a local expert on TrustedChoice to get started in minutes.