This article is being written as Californians are receiving the usual warnings about the Santa Ana winds. These winds come in the late fall and early winter periods as hot dry air is forced out of the deserts and heads for the sea. This weather warning will bring 2011 to a close with a bang. With 1560 tornadoes confirmed and 575 people killed, this has been one of the worst years on record for death and destruction caused by the wind. This includes the Super Outbreak in April which affected the larger part of the southern states and the midwest.
In a way, we have all been conditioned to think of this damage as being mainly a property problem. We see all the pictures of the winds picking up buildings and leaving nothing but wreckage behind. When the twisters move through a town, entire neighborhoods are flattened. So we routinely reach for the homeowners insurance policy and start reading the small print to see whether we are covered. As an aside, the insurers have been getting more restrictive with their coverage as the number of wind-related events have been increasing. Premium rates have been rising fast when the homes involved are more prone to damage. This can be the obvious problems of mobile homes and trailers through to older properties where roof construction may not be as robust. You may benefit from asking a builder for quotes to reinforce your roof – discussing the plans with your insurer can bring the premium rates down so rebuilding can be a good investment.
Although buildings are static targets, not everyone can drive their vehicles out of harm’s way. There are three major source of danger for vehicles. The wind can literally blow a high-sided vehicle over. If you are overtaking a semi-trailer truck or a bus, you can suddenly find yourself caught in a trap as something falls on to or in front of your vehicle. Equally, once a tornado or windstorm picks up branches or debris, it has to come down somewhere. If you are driving when it hits, it can cause an accident. If you are parked, it can simply damage the vehicle in your garage or parked on the yard. Secondly, wind can move water. It can be rain, sleet or snow, or in a lake or the sea. This combination can produce flooding which can seriously damage modern vehicles with their electronic systems. Thirdly, windstorms like Santa Ana routinely cause wild fires.
This damage will not be covered by a liability policy. You need both collision and comprehensive cover to give yourself some protection from losses. But this is where the small print becomes important. The number of natural disasters this year is forcing insurers to reprice the risks of losses. This means next year’s auto insurance quotes will be higher and there will be more exclusions and limitations. So if you live in California or in the northern states where the winter winds may cause damage, now is the time to think carefully about precisely how much insurance you carry. Cheap auto insurance is not a good idea if you are at risk. This will only pay out in very limited situations. Aim for the best cover you can afford.
