Coverage varies by state, by insurer, and by the exact policy form a household holds. That means a generic article cannot tell you what your home, renters, auto, flood, or earthquake policy actually covers — but it can hand you the exact questions worth asking your own insurer before the next storm season, so the answer comes from someone who can actually give one. This checklist is one branch of the insurance and benefits continuity hub.
Why this is a question list, not an answer list
NAIC’s homeowners guidance describes standard coverage in broad categories — dwelling, personal property, liability, additional living expenses — and is explicit that flood and earthquake perils sit outside that standard policy entirely. Beyond that broad shape, the details that matter in an actual event (named-storm deductibles, water-backup limits, code-upgrade coverage, replacement-cost versus actual-cash-value settlement) differ by state, insurer, and policy form. Use the questions below with your own insurer or agent; do not treat any answer here as your answer.
Homeowners and renters
- Does my policy cover the dwelling, or only personal property (renters typically insure only contents and liability, not the structure)?
- Is my personal property covered at replacement cost or actual cash value?
- Is there a separate, higher deductible for wind, hail, or named-storm damage in my state?
- Does my policy cover additional living expenses if the home is temporarily uninhabitable, and for how long?
- Are detached structures, home business equipment, or high-value items (jewelry, art, electronics) covered, or do they need a separate rider?
- Is water backup from a sewer or drain covered, and is that a separate endorsement?
Auto
- Does my policy cover flood or storm damage to the vehicle, or only comprehensive-eligible events?
- What is my deductible for comprehensive versus collision claims?
- Does coverage follow the vehicle or the driver if a family member borrows the car during an evacuation?
- Is a rental car covered while my vehicle is being repaired after a covered loss?
Flood
- NAIC confirms flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy — do I have a separate flood policy, and through which program or insurer?
- What is the effective date, and is there a waiting period before it takes effect?
- Does the policy cover the structure, contents, or both?
- Is my property in a mapped flood zone, and does that change my premium or requirements?
Earthquake
- NAIC confirms earthquake damage is also excluded from a standard homeowners policy — do I have separate earthquake coverage?
- What is the deductible, and is it a percentage of the dwelling’s insured value rather than a flat dollar amount?
- Does the policy cover the structure only, or personal property and additional living expenses as well?
After you ask
Record the insurer’s answers on your contact sheet alongside the policy number and renewal date — not as a summary you’ll trust later, but as a note of what you were told and when. If an answer seems inconsistent with your declarations page, ask again or contact your state insurance department for a neutral second opinion. The property-value answers you collect here also belong in the household’s home inventory and insurance recovery plan.