Washington D.C. Tornado Insurance

Independent agents in Washington DC shop multiple companies to get you the best price on tornado insurance.

Written by Jessica Huneck
Written by Jessica Huneck

Jessica Huneck is an insurance writer from TrustedChoice.com. She began her writing career in 2011 and has since earned herself a bachelor's degree in English writing.

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Tornadoes are among the most expensive of the natural disasters that occur in the United States. While they are not a major threat in the District of Columbia area, twisters do sometimes touch down here. It is therefore important that residents ensure that they have the proper tornado insurance to cover their property and protect their finances.

These fierce storms can destroy homes, vehicles, personal property and businesses in Washington, DC. You may already have sufficient coverage against tornadoes as part of the insurance policies you currently carry. If not, it is a good idea to review tornado insurance quotes and purchase policies that will adequately cover your belongings.

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Washington, DC Tornado Statistics

  • Though it is a very small geographical area, Washington, DC has experienced seven tornadoes since record keeping began.
  • This equates to 0.56 tornadoes per 1,000 square miles per year.
  • Most tornadoes that affect this area have occurred in May.
  • In September 2001, an F0 tornado passed near the Pentagon and crossed the Potomac River causing damage to some trees in the area.
  • In May 1995, a F1 tornado uprooted trees and caused $50,000 in damage at the National Arboretum.
  • In May 1943, a tornado was seen crossing the Potomac toward the Jefferson Memorial; it dissipated without causing any damage.
  • In November 1927, an F2 tornado caused injuries and damage to the Anacostia Naval Air Station and the Navy Yard and destroyed many homes in the Kingman Park neighborhood.
  • In May 1927, and F0 tornado caused minor damage near North Capitol Street and Rhode Island Avenue.
  • In September of 1888, and F2 tornado caused damage along Maryland Avenue and damaged the Botanic Gardens and the Smithsonian Institution.

Why Consider Tornado Insurance in Washington, DC?

Most residents of Washington, DC give very little thought to the possibility of tornado damage. However, for a city of this size to have experienced seven tornadoes, the risk is very real. The neighboring states of Virginia and Maryland experience an average of 10 and 6 tornadoes a year, respectfully, and any one of these could make their way toward Washington, DC.

When it comes to coverage against these storms, know that tornado insurance is not a policy on its own. It is typically included in the policies that you already have. However, this coverage is sometimes optional, so it is important that you confirm whether it is included in your policies. The cost to add this coverage to a home or business insurance policy is usually negligible, particularly in a low-risk area like Washington, DC, and it can save you thousands of dollars in the event that a twister damages your property.

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Tornado Insurance Covers Homes in Washington, DC

Tornadoes can be highly destructive to homes. The cyclonic winds can rip roofs off houses and shatter windows. The damage is typically not limited to the home’s structure; many personal belongings are also subject to damage. This is one of the many reasons to have sufficient home insurance coverage.

Whether you carry traditional homeowners insurance, condo insurance or renters insurance, your policy is likely to include coverage against tornado damage. However, some policies are of the named peril variety, and, in such cases, many homeowners in the low-risk area of Washington, DC area may have neglected to name tornadoes specifically. While the chances of a tornado damaging your home are slight, the possibility does exist, so it is important that you ensure that your policy includes tornado insurance.

Adding this coverage to a homeowners or renters insurance policy that does not already include it is not very expensive in the Washington, DC area. If you currently lack tornado insurance coverage, it is a good idea to, at the very least, request a few policy quotes.

Tornado Insurance Covers Vehicles in Washington, DC

There are many ways that a tornado can cause damage to your vehicle. A tornado can uproot trees that can fall onto your car, flying debris can break windshields and dent the car’s body and resultant fires or collapsed buildings can cause damage to cars parked in indoor garages. The only way you can get compensation for this sort of damage is to have comprehensive coverage included with your car or truck insurance policy.

Residents of Washington, DC are required to carry liability and uninsured motorist coverage on their vehicles, but unless you are still paying for the financing of your car, comprehensive coverage is optional. If your car is very valuable or if having to replace your totaled car would cause you a financial hardship, adding comprehensive coverage to your policy is a wise decision and will enable you to have tornado insurance for your vehicle.

Tornado Insurance Protects DC-Based Businesses

Washington, DC has a number of entrepreneurs and business owners within its borders. If you are among them, you may already have a commercial insurance policy in place to protect your business from undue financial losses. In most cases, tornado insurance coverage is included as part of this coverage, but sometimes it is not. Be sure to review your current policy to ensure that it does not exclude tornado damage. If it does, you may want to purchase a tornado coverage endorsement or, if that is not available, look for a policy that includes this coverage.

You may also want to ensure that you have included loss of income coverage with your business insurance policy. That way, if tornado damage forces you to temporarily halt sales or production, your business can continue to generate enough income to stay afloat until you complete repairs and you can resume normal business operations.

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Save on Tornado Insurance

Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

Get a Variety of Tornado Insurance Quotes in Washington, DC

When are you are assessing what kind of tornado coverage you already have and how much coverage you still need, independent insurance agents in the Trusted Choice® network can be an excellent resource. These agents can help you review your current policies and can work with a number of insurance providers to help you find tornado insurance quotes for competitively priced policies that meet your coverage needs.

There are a number of Trusted Choice agents with offices right here in Washington, DC. Contact a local agent to learn more about your tornado insurance options.

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