Hurricane Irma has come and gone. UnlikeHurricane Wilma in 2005, it did not leave a sea of blue tarps inits wake. Nonetheless, many homeowners sustained water damage andthe question becomes, is there insurance coverage.
Wind-driven rain
The lack of blue tarps in South Florida is indicative of a lack ofroof damage caused by Hurricane Irma which may spell lack ofcoverage for water damage claims. Most insurance policies containan exclusion or limitation for water damage to the interior of abuilding unless a windstorm damages the roof or exterior walls of astructure through which water enters. This policy exclusion isknown as the wind-driven rain exclusion.
An example of this exclusion/limitation can be found inInsurance Services Office (ISO) forms which provide, “We will notpay for loss of or damage to property, as described and limited inthis section. In addition, we will not pay for any loss that is aconsequence of loss or damage as described and limited in thissection … The interior of any building or structure, or to personalproperty in the building or structure, caused by or resulting fromrain, snow, sleet, ice, sand or dust, whether driven by wind ornot, unless the building or structure first sustains damage from acovered cause of loss to its roof or walls through whichthe rain, snow, sleet, ice, sand or dust enters.”
Maintenance issue vs. peril
The most common cause of water damage from a storm like Irma occurswhen water enters through window or door seals without any damageto the windows or doors itself. Seepage of water through the sealsis typically considered a maintenance issue and does not constitutea peril under the insurance policy.
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