Does Kentucky Farm Bureau cover tornado damage to your home?

We’ve had a few close calls with tornadoes over the past couple of years. It feels like every spring the weather gets more unpredictable. I have my home insurance through Kentucky Farm Bureau, but I’ve never actually had to file a claim. If a tornado were to seriously damage my house, or even destroy it, would my policy fully cover something like that?

I want to make sure I really understand what’s covered before I ever have to deal with it.

Kentucky Farm Bureau homeowners insurance does typically cover tornado damage, since tornadoes fall under windstorm coverage, which is included in most standard policies.

That means if a tornado damages your roof, walls, or even destroys the home, your policy is generally designed to help pay for repairs or rebuilding. It can also cover personal belongings damaged in the storm and may help with temporary living expenses if your home becomes unlivable.

That said, how much is covered depends on a few key details.

First is your coverage limit: the amount your policy will pay to rebuild your home. It’s important that this reflects today’s construction costs, not what your home was worth years ago.

Second is your deductible, which is what you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Some policies may have separate or higher deductibles for wind-related damage.

Also, keep in mind that while tornado damage is covered, flooding is not. If a storm brings heavy rain and water enters your home from the ground up, that would require a separate flood insurance policy.

If you want peace of mind before storm season, it’s worth asking your Kentucky Farm Bureau agent:

• What is my current rebuild limit, and is it enough to fully rebuild my home today?
• Do I have a separate or higher deductible for wind or tornado damage?
• Should I be looking into flood insurance as well, just in case?

The good news is that tornado damage is one of the main risks homeowners insurance is built to cover; you just want to make sure your limits are set correctly.