Local Weather Disasters Impact Athens, Ohio Home Owners Insurance
Living in Athens, Ohio is often considered a safe option due to low crime, low populations, and a general relaxed feel to the community. We are not a target for terrorism. We also benefit from our land locked state… we do not see many hurricanes, tidal waves, or tsunamis in Southeast Ohio, but it is not unheard of for us to get our share of bizarre weather, with our insane temperature fluctuations, all of which can impact your Athens, Ohio home owners insurance coverage, policies, and rates.
Homeowners insurance policies (or House Insurance) usually offer coverage for damage caused by fires, lightning strikes, windstorms and hail. That said, damage from earthquakes and floods are not typically covered.
Tornados do strike in Southeast, Ohio
Though it is rare, our community can be rocked by tornados and the like. In September, 2010, just as students were settling in to a new school year, The Plains, Ohio (5 miles Northwest of Athens) was battered by a hurricane that took out several homes, mobile home parks, and large parts of Athens High School including the entire football stadium! There was a soccer game going on in that exact vicinity at the time, but thankfully everyone involved found shelter.
Just as the community got things put back together, in a sweltering June week in 2012, a derecho hit Athens and the wind damage tore off rooftops, snapped trees, and knocked out power to many for weeks. It was one of the most severe weather incidents in Southeast Ohio history.
Photo by Debbie Allen, from the Athens News
A derecho is a lesser known type of storm, defined as (dictionary.com): a line of intense, widespread, and fast-moving windstorms and sometimes thunderstorms that moves across a great distance and is characterized by damaging winds. The one that struck Athens that hot summer’s day had winds that topped 60 miles per hour!
We also have experienced minor earthquakes… which some claim will only increase as fracking continues to shake up the environment around here, literally.
Tornado, hail, wind and derecho damage is covered by most Home Owners Insurance.
Things Not Covered by Most Home Owners Policies
Athens gets its share of flooding, particularly in the low lying surrounding areas such as Chauncey, The Plains, Nelsonville, Canaanville, Albany and Pratts Fork. This is due to the mighty Ohio River and the way it interacts with the Hocking River, and its various tributaries Home Owners Insurance typically does not cover flooding, though flood insurance for Athens, Ohio is available thru the Federal Government FEMA as well as through Brent Hartman at O’Nail Hartman Insurance (yes we cover flood insurance for Logan Ohio also!)
On a hot April evening in 1997, Ohio University Students “took to the streets” in a (sorta) riot over the time change cheating them out of an extra hour of drinking time. (Bars closed at 1am, instead of 2, claiming it was illegal to sell booze after “2am”.) The term “riot” is a bit over-hyped as no one was necessarily hurt or injured, but they did take over Court Street (the main drag in Athens, Ohio) which shut down traffic and caused the arrest of 47 individuals. Damage from this sort of activity, and also from any of the famous haunting stories of Southeast Ohio, are typically not covered by home owners insurance policies.
A Good Rule of Thumb
If in doubt, talk to your agent, ask questions, and get re-assured that you have your home protected from financial loss due to natural occurances. Our lead man Mr. Brent Hartman stands at the ready to discuss your unique situations, and invites your call anytime.