The “Bomb Cyclone” Recovery Guide: What Insurance Covers (and What Doesn’t)

The sky screams, the mercury plunges and your house groans under the weight of a ‘bomb cyclone’. While meteorologists love the dramatic terminology, there’s nothing poetic about the sound of a pipe breaking in your basement or your roof buckling under a foot of frozen slush.

Once the wind stops howling, the real storm begins: the insurance claim. Most homeowners assume that they are fully covered for whatever Mother Nature throws their way. The reality is more nuanced, and if you’re not careful, a “preventable” maintenance problem could leave you with a five-figure bill alone.

This is exactly what you can expect from your insurer when the ice thaws.

Frozen and burst pipes

When water freezes in a pipe, it expands with enough force to split both copper and plastic. The resulting mess can cause an average of more than $11,000 in damageaccording to industry data.

• The coverage: Standard policies typically cover the “sudden and accidental” discharge of water. This means that if a pipe bursts unexpectedly, the insurance company will likely pay to dry out your home, replace broken drywall, and repair your warped hardwood floors. As long as the water starts indoors, you are generally on solid ground.
• The “heat” catch: This is where they get you. Most insurers require that you take ‘reasonable care’ of the property. If you turn off the heating to save some money while visiting family, or if you leave a holiday home unheated, the claim may be rejected due to negligence. Most experts recommend keeping the thermostat at a minimum of 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The pipe itself: In a frustrating twist of insurance logic, many policies cover damage caused by the water, but will not pay for the actual pipe repair or the plumber’s labor to weld the break.

Roof collapses and snow weight

A cubic foot of fresh snow weighs about 20 pounds, but packed ice and “bomb cyclone” slush can weigh significantly more. If that weight causes your trusses to splinter, you’re dealing with a major structural claim.

• The coverage: Most standard homeowners policies cover the collapse of the roof caused by the weight of snow, ice or sleet. This includes damage to your personal belongings in the home that become crushed or soaked during the collapse.
• The maintenance trap: If an installer climbs up there and finds that your roof is 30 years old, rotting, or has pre-existing damage, they can claim that the snow was just the “last straw” for a failing structure. In that case, they may pay only a fraction of the costs or deny the claim entirely.
• Ice dams: These occur when heat escaping from your attic melts snow on the roof, which then freezes back at the cold eaves, literally creating a dam. Although the resulting water damage is usually covered, the cost of removing the ice dam itself is typically considered a maintenance expense, meaning you will have to cover the costs yourself.

Floods vs. water damage

This is the most common point of confusion – and the most expensive mistake you can make when talking to an adjuster.

• Groundwater is the enemy: If snow from a bomb cyclone melts quickly and seeps through your foundation or flows under your front door, Standard homeowners insurance does not cover this. That is classified as a “flood,” which requires a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• Watch your language: Never tell your insurer that your basement has “flooded” if water is coming from a burst pipe. Use the term ‘water damage’. Using the word “flood” can lead to an automatic denial before you even finish the sentence.

Food spoilage and power outages

If the storm takes out the grille, the contents of your freezer are at risk.

• The $500 limit: Many policies offer up to $500 for food spoilage if the failure was caused by a covered peril (such as a tree falling on a power line).
• The deductible dilemma: Check your deductible before making a claim for $300 worth of steaks. If your deductible is $1,000, you won’t get a cent and you will have a claim on your record that could increase your premiums later.

Beware of “storm chasers”

After the wind dies down, the scammers come out. Be wary of contractors who show up at your door uninvited and offer ‘free’ roof inspections or promise to handle your insurance claim for you. This winter storm scam could leave you with a lien on your home or a half-completed repair. Always call your insurance company first and use their list of preferred licensed contractors.