Standard home insurance in Arizona generally covers monsoon-related damage from wind, hail, and lightning. But losses caused by rising water or flash floods are excluded from coverage. For those, you’ll need flood insurance.
Arizona's monsoon season strikes during the hottest months of the year. The storms it brings can cause sudden, severe damage from hail to flooding in areas that rarely see standing water. Identifying and filling gaps in your policy ahead of time can make a real difference if a storm damages your property.
How does home insurance cover monsoon damage in Arizona?
In Arizona, monsoon season runs from June 15 through September 30. It’s characterized by wind shifts moving moisture into the dry, arid regions of the state, which can create heavy thunderstorms.
Home insurance typically covers the following types of damage caused by monsoon storms:
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Damage caused directly to property by wind and hail
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Water damage when wind or hail creates an opening in your home that allows rain to enter
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Damage caused by falling trees or windborne objects like outdoor furniture
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Lightning strikes that cause fire damage to the home or power surge damage to electrical systems and appliances
Does home insurance cover flooding from an Arizona monsoon?
Flooding from monsoon storms is not covered by home insurance. To get coverage, you can add a flood endorsement (optional policy add-on) to your existing home insurance if your insurer offers the option. Otherwise, you'll need to buy Arizona flood insurance from a private insurer or the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
The dry desert soil in Arizona can’t absorb heavy rain well, which means flash floods can happen quickly during a storm even if you don’t live in a high-risk flood zone or near a body of water. To make matters worse, Arizona has a greater wildfire risk than 82% of states in the U.S, according to the USDA Forest Service. Wildfires can create a water-repellent layer of burned vegetation and soil that further increases the risk of flooding.
Keep in mind that government-backed NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage kicks in. Some private policies have shorter waiting periods. Either way, it’s a good idea to purchase flood insurance well before you need it so coverage takes effect by the time monsoon season begins.
Does home insurance cover water backups from an Arizona monsoon?
Home insurance in Arizona does not cover water or sewage backups, which can occur during intense storms when systems become overwhelmed by debris or heavy precipitation. Your home insurance policy will generally only cover sudden and accidental water damage, like a burst pipe or a roof that suddenly starts leaking. You can protect your home from water or sewage backups by adding a water backup endorsement to your home insurance policy.
What other types of monsoon damage aren’t covered by home insurance in Arizona?
Outside of flooding and water backups, there are two other types of damage that aren’t covered by home insurance in Arizona:
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Losses linked to neglect or wear and tear: For example, if a monsoon storm causes your roof to leak, but the roof was already deteriorating at the time of the loss, the damage may not be covered.
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Vehicles parked on your property: Home insurance doesn’t cover vehicle damage. Your car insurance applies to that. Specifically, your auto policy will need to include comprehensive coverage to help pay for damage your vehicle sustains from a monsoon storm or any other non-collision event.
How to reduce monsoon damage risk in Arizona
Here are some ways to reduce the risk of monsoon storm damage in Arizona:
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Maintain your roof and gutters: Regularly clean out your gutters to help water drain properly.
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Trim your trees: Remove heavy or dead limbs and prevent them from becoming flying debris in a windstorm.
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Secure outdoor furniture: Make sure to secure or bring in outdoor furniture, equipment, and decorations ahead of a storm.
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Upgrade the structure of your home: You can harden your home to better withstand storms with wind mitigation upgrades like hurricane straps and clips for your roof, anchor bolts for the building’s frame, impact-resistant doors and windows, and more.
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Create a defensible space zone: Plant trees in groups, and use earth mounds or open-slat fencing to protect your home from strong winds.
How to file a monsoon damage claim in Arizona
Here’s how to file a claim after a monsoon storm damages your home or the property inside.
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Record the damage: Take photos and videos of all your losses, and make a list of everything that was damaged or destroyed. Record the date, time, and cause of the damage, if known. Don’t throw away anything related to the damage until your insurance company says it’s OK to do so.
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Make emergency repairs: Repair anything necessary to make the property safe and prevent further damage. For example, you should cover broken windows and holes in your roof. Save receipts for materials and bills for labor expenses, as they may be reimbursable.
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Contact your insurance company: After the storm, contact your insurance company to begin a claim. You can usually start the process online, on the company’s mobile app, or by phone. You will receive a claim number and instructions for next steps.
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Provide documentation: You may need to provide a proof of loss form, along with photos and videos of the damage, receipts for emergency repairs and contractors, along with a list of lost or damaged belongings.
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Coordinate with the adjuster: An insurance adjuster will contact you to manage the claim and ask questions about your loss. They may schedule a home visit to assess the loss, verify the claim is valid, and determine the claim payout amount. Make sure to stick to the facts. Don’t guess the value of items or speculate about the cause of damages.
The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions provides information about home insurance and the state laws that regulate it on its website.
Frequently asked questions
Will my homeowners insurance cover water damage from rain?
Your home insurance can cover water damage from rain if it was caused by a covered event. For example, water damage that resulted from a storm creating a hole in your roof is likely covered. Your home insurance will not cover rain that causes flooding and damages your home or belongings. For that, you need flood insurance.
What should you not say to a homeowners insurance adjuster?
Withholding or misrepresenting information could lead to your claim getting denied and cancellation of your insurance policy. That’s why it’s important to be completely honest, stick to the facts, and not speculate about the loss.
What are two main things not covered under homeowners insurance in Arizona?
Floods and earthquakes are not covered by standard home insurance in Arizona. You will need to add an endorsement to your home insurance or secure a separate flood or earthquake policy to be covered for damage caused by these events.
