What should you know about storm damage law and insurance in Georgia?
Short answer. In Georgia, whether storm damage is paid depends mostly on your policy: standard homeowners policies cover sudden wind, hail, lightning, and falling tree damage, exclude flood and wear, and apply your deductible, which may be a percentage of your dwelling coverage for wind and hail. State law adds claim handling deadlines for insurers and protections against contractor abuses.
What a typical policy covers after a storm
- Wind and hail damage to the roof, siding, gutters, and windows.
- Falling trees that hit the house or another covered structure. Removing a tree that falls without hitting anything is often limited or excluded.
- Interior water that enters through a storm-created opening.
- Lightning and the fire it causes.
What it usually does not
- Flood and surface water, which require separate flood insurance.
- Wear, age, and maintenance problems, even when a storm exposes them. See wear and tear vs hail damage.
- Cosmetic dents on metal roofs, if your policy carries that exclusion.
Policy terms that change the check
A percentage wind and hail deductible, an actual cash value roof schedule that pays less as the roof ages, and recoverable depreciation that is released only after the work is done can each reshape what you receive. Two neighbors with identical damage can get very different checks because of these terms.
Where the law steps in
Georgia requires insurers to handle claims promptly and explain denials in writing, allows a bad faith penalty when a covered loss is refused without reasonable grounds, and protects homeowners from contractors who waive deductibles or take assignments of insurance proceeds after declared disasters. For wind-specific claims, see wind damage roof claims.