Today's insured looked out the window and saw that a windstorm with strong 50 MPH sustained winds had kicked up soil from their neighbor's farm fields. The soil accumulated in layers over their home, garage, pool, hot tub, and all their beautiful landscaping. The garage door was open, so their home carpentry workshop and storage was covered in dirt. Even their koi pond was buried in the soil. None of the buildings were structurally compromised, but the insured will need a professional cleaning. Notable ...
Today's insured looked out the window and saw that a windstorm with strong 50 MPH sustained winds had kicked up soil from their neighbor's farm fields. The soil accumulated in layers over their home, garage, pool, hot tub, and all their beautiful landscaping. The garage door was open, so their home carpentry workshop and storage was covered in dirt. Even their koi pond was buried in the soil. None of the buildings were structurally compromised, but the insured will need a professional cleaning.
Notable Timestamps
[ 08:03 ] - Direct physical loss can include the cost of exceptional cleaning effort for a dwelling or other structure, even if no permanent damage occurred.
[ 10:20 ] - Water in a pool or pond is likely not covered property under a standard homeowners policy due to a "property not covered" provision for water.
[ 11:23 ] - The cost to drain and refill a pool may be covered if necessary to repair damage to the structure itself.
[ 13:46 ] - Personal property inside a building is only covered for windstorm damage if the wind first created an opening (like to the roof or siding) through which dirt or dust entered.
[ 15:02 ] - Personal property located outside a building, such as patio furniture, would be covered for damage from wind or a dust storm.
[ 16:35 ] - Animals, including koi fish, are generally excluded from personal property coverage in a standard policy, often requiring a special endorsement.
[ 19:14 ] - Damage to landscaping, trees, shrubs, and plants is an additional coverage, and windstorm is typically not one of the few named perils that apply.
[ 20:47 ] - Beth provides a recap of the points above.
Your PLRB Resources
TYCK: Wind Blew Dirt On My Koi Fish - https://members.plrb.org/education/courses/wind-blew-dirt-on-my-koi-fish
Coverage Question: Overflow from a Sump: Does It Apply to Water from a Drainage Line? (Another Koi Fish Hypothetical) - https://www.plrb.org/documents/overflow-from-a-sump-does-it-apply-to-water-from-a-drainage-line-pcq-2017-06-07-jch-a
Employees of member companies also have access to a searchable legal database, hundreds of hours of video trainings, building code materials, weather data, and even the ability to have your coverage questions answered by our team of attorneys (https://www.plrb.org/ask-plrb/) at no additional charge to you or your company.
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The views and opinions expressed in this resource are those of the individual speaker and not necessarily those of the Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), its membership, or any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated. The information, ideas, and opinions are presented as information only and not as legal advice or offers of representation. Individual policy language and state laws vary, and listeners should rely on guidance from their companies and counsel as appropriate.
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