Does insurance cover wind-driven rain damage?
Short answer. Only in part. Homeowners policies generally cover rain damage inside the house when wind or hail first created an opening in the roof or walls, such as missing shingles or a broken window. Rain that the wind pushes through closed windows, doors, vents or worn flashing without any storm-created opening is usually excluded.
The opening rule
Standard homeowners forms say interior damage from rain, snow, sleet, sand or dust is covered only if wind or hail first makes an opening in the roof or a wall and the precipitation enters through it. The rule is written into the personal property coverage, and insurers apply similar reasoning to the dwelling through exclusions for wear, deterioration and seepage.
Covered examples
- Shingles were torn off, and rain soaked the decking and ceiling.
- A limb broke a window and rain came in.
- Wind lifted flashing away from a wall, and water ran in behind it.
Commonly denied examples
- Rain blew under intact shingles or through ridge vents during a heavy storm.
- Water came through closed windows or around door frames.
- A leak at an old pipe boot or cracked flashing that failed from age.
- Water through a window left open.
Gray areas
Shingles that lifted and broke their seal in the wind can be an opening if the wind caused the damage, and displaced vents or caps count too. That is why documenting fresh wind damage at the leak location matters so much.
What to do
- Find where the water entered, from the attic if you can do so safely.
- Photograph the entry point and the interior damage.
- Stop more water and start drying.
- Report with the storm date.