Can You Adjust Your Home Insurance Policy Before a Weather Event?

Natural disasters have become increasingly common across the country in recent years. In Senatobia, MS, recent tornadoes and flooding have caused significant destruction, affecting hundreds of residents. It’s more important than ever to review your home insurance policy before another tornado, flood, storm, or other natural disaster strikes.

Can You Adjust Your Home Insurance Policy Before a Natural Disaster?

Whether you can make changes to your home insurance policy before a natural disaster depends on the timing. If the request is made too close to the expected arrival of the disaster, insurance companies, including Storey Insurance, typically activate a waiting period. During this time, they will not accept new policies, changes to existing policies, or migration to new carriers. "Too close" is defined as the period after the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the weather event. Once the storm passes, the waiting period ends.

Why Is There a Waiting Period?

The waiting period allows insurers to assess the potential damage caused by the event and prepare for incoming claims. Importantly, the alert doesn’t need to directly affect your home for the waiting period to be activated—it’s a precautionary measure in case the event does cause damage in Senatobia, MS.

Making changes to policies during this time can complicate an already unpredictable situation. It takes time for new policies or adjustments to go into effect, and attempting to make changes during a waiting period can disrupt the process.

At Storey Insurance, we aim to protect your home from natural disasters. While we are unable to make changes during the waiting period, we can still review your policy and discuss coverage options with you. Once the waiting period is over, we can help you revise, switch, or update your policy to ensure your home is fully protected. For more information about home insurance, contact Storey Insurance today.

Options For Insuring a Home-Based Business

Small business owners understand the importance of separating their personal and business finances. However, some overlook the need to do the same with their insurance. Neglecting to acquire separate commercial insurance to protect your business and its assets can be a costly mistake. If you reside in or near Senatobia, MS, and wish to discuss insurance for your home and business, consider reaching out to our team at Storey Insurance.

Understanding Insurance for Home-Based Businesses

If you operate a home-based business, you likely have business-owned assets such as a computer and other office electronics. You may also have business-owned furniture, inventory, or supplies stored at home. As your business grows, the value of these assets can easily exceed the $2,500 in business assets covered by many home insurance policies. Moreover, many businesses require professional, liability, or other commercial insurance protections beyond those for their business assets.

If this applies to you, consider acquiring commercial insurance for your home-based business. Small home-based businesses may obtain sufficient coverage by adding a business rider to their home policy, doubling their business asset coverage to $5,000.

If your insurance needs are greater, in-home business insurance policies provide property, liability, and other insurance elements for businesses with revenues less than $250,000.

Businesses with revenues over $250,000 often opt for a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) that bundles multiple types of insurance. These policies are easy to acquire and cover a range of issues. Plus, you can add Workers’ Compensation coverage to your BOP if you have employees.

Experience the Storey Insurance Difference

The Storey Insurance team serves homeowners and businesses in Senatobia, MS. Call us today at (662) 560-7021 to schedule an appointment to develop an insurance plan that meets all your needs.

Will Home Insurance Cover Lightning Strike?

Your homeowner’s insurance policy will pay to repair or replace your home if a covered event occurs, but is lightning one of those covered events? The professionals at Storey Insurance, servicing Senatobia, MS, can help answer this question. If a lightning strike has damaged your home, knowing what your home insurance will cover and what to do next is important. Our insurance agents are here to help.

Does Home Insurance Cover Lightning Strike?

Most home insurance policies do cover lightning strikes. This includes lightning striking your house and damage that may occur if a nearby tree is struck by lightning and falls on your house or other structures on your property. Lightning strikes can cause a fire and may damage appliances and sensitive appliances. If your home has been affected by a lightning strike, your home insurance policy could be a very important part of your recovery.

What Should You Do If Your Home Is Struck By Lightning?

If your home is struck by lightning, the first thing you should do is get yourself and your family members to safety. Call for emergency services and vacate the area if your home is on fire due to a lightning strike. If your home is not on fire, you can assess the damage. Your appliances and sensitive electronic equipment may be damaged or ruined.

Once you’ve assessed the damage, contact your insurance agency. You may need to file a claim to get your home and personal belongings repaired. Your insurance agency will likely send a claims adjuster to your home to assess the damage. They may also ask you to take pictures of the damage, keep any receipts for items you purchase, and fill out forms.

Do you have questions about recovering from a lightning strike? Call Storey Insurance, servicing Senatobia, MS. We can help.