South Dakota Tornado Insurance
Find the right tornado insurance policy for you.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
Tornadoes can touch down anywhere as is evidenced by the fact that these storms have caused damage to every U.S. state. However, states such as South Dakota that are located within the area commonly referred to as Tornado Alley have the greatest risk.
Having suitable tornado insurance in South Dakota can help you protect homes, businesses, vehicles and personal property against the cyclonic winds of a tornado. If you are a resident of South Dakota, you may want to compare a variety of tornado insurance quotes to ensure that you have suitable coverage at a reasonable rate.
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Why Tornado Insurance Is Important in South Dakota
Tornadoes are among the most destructive of the natural disasters that occur in this country. While most of the tornadoes that touch down in this state are F1 or F2 twisters, some are far more damaging. For example, on May 30, 1998, a half-mile wide F4 twister practically destroyed the town of Spencer, SD, killing 6, injuring 150 and destroying 90 percent of the structures in the town as it rolled through.
The costs associated with property damage were overwhelming. By ensuring that you cover all of your valuable personal property against this type of windstorm, you can avoid the financial loss and devastation a tornado can bring.
South Dakota Tornado Facts
- South Dakota ranks 10th in the nation for risk of tornadoes.
- This state sees an average of 28 tornadoes a year.
- Average number of tornadoes per 10,000 square miles: 3.69.
- Tornadoes cause an average of $1.779 million in damage in SD each year.
- Between 1950 and 1994, 1,139 tornadoes touched down in South Dakota.
- Those tornadoes caused 11 fatalities and more than $169 billion in damage.
Tornado Insurance Can Cover Damage to South Dakota Homes
Tornadoes can be especially destructive to homes. Heavy winds and uprooted trees can destroy sheds, fences, detached garages and roofs and can severely damage the structure of your home. Damage to roofs, windows, and foundations often results in damage to contents as well.
Ensure that your homeowners, condo, mobile home or renters insurance policy includes coverage against tornado damage. Most insurance companies will include this coverage as part of their standard coverage package, but, in some cases, you may have to purchase a separate tornado insurance rider.
Additionally, if you have a named-peril type of policy, you will need to specifically list tornadoes as a covered event. It is very important that you be aware of what your current home insurance policy does and does not cover.
Tornado insurance, as part of your home insurance policy, covers damage to the structure of your South Dakota home as well as to any outlying structures on your property such as storage sheds, fences, and detached garages. It can also provide coverage for the contents of your home if a storm damages them. Your insurance may also provide temporary housing or relocation assistance if tornadoes are included among your covered events.
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Tornado Insurance Can Cover Vehicular Damage
Tornadoes can severely damage cars, trucks and other vehicles. Flying debris, falling objects, and collapsed garages are just some of the many tornado-related hazards that can damage a vehicle even when it is not in use. The only way to attain coverage against this type of destruction is by including comprehensive coverage as part of your auto insurance policy.
Comprehensive coverage may be a lender requirement if you finance your vehicle, but this coverage is not a legal requirement. Many who own their vehicles outright forgo this coverage in an attempt to save money. Unfortunately, this leaves them open to major financial loss in the event of a tornado or other disaster. It may be worth obtaining a quote to add comprehensive coverage to your policy if you do not already carry it.
Tornado Insurance Can Cover SD-Based Businesses
If you own a business in South Dakota and you have a business insurance policy, you likely have coverage against tornado damage. It is a good idea to review your policy every three to five years to ensure that the coverage you have is sufficient. Also, you might want to consider including continuation of income coverage so that your company can remain profitable even if it must temporarily halt operations while necessary tornado damage repairs take place.
Compare Tornado Insurance Quotes in South Dakota
How can you tell if your current insurance policies provide you with adequate coverage against tornado damage? It can sometimes be difficult to understand the fine print in the details of an insurance policy. An independent insurance agent in our network can help you review your policies, and, in the event that additional coverage is advisable, can provide a selection of competitively priced policies that include tornado insurance for your review.
Contact an agent in or near your South Dakota neighborhood to get more information. You'll be able to start comparing tornado insurance quotes in no time.