Tornado insurance does not exist as a standalone policy, but standard Missouri homeowners insurance covers some forms of tornado damage — like a shattered window or siding ripped off by high winds. For other types of damage, like flooding, you'll need flood insurance.
Research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that Tornado Alley is shifting east, and Missouri is becoming increasingly susceptible to tornadoes. If you own a home here, understanding what your Missouri home insurance policy covers — and where coverage gaps might exist — can save you a lot of headaches after a storm.
What does homeowners insurance cover for tornado damage?
A standard homeowners policy (called an HO-3 in the industry) covers wind and hail damage from tornadoes across four main areas:
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Dwelling coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild the physical structure of your home, like the walls, roof, and foundation.
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Other structures coverage: Covers detached garages, fences, and similar outbuildings that get damaged by a tornado.
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Personal property coverage: Helps pay to replace personal belongings inside and outside your home.
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Loss of use coverage: Helps pay for temporary housing, transportation, laundry, and other essentials if your home is uninhabitable after a tornado and has to be repaired or rebuilt.
Keep in mind that damage from flooding is an exclusion — it is not covered by standard homeowners insurance. If you want coverage for flood damage, you’ll need to add flood insurance to your existing home policy via endorsement (if this option is available) or purchase a separate flood insurance policy through a private insurer or the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Wind exclusions are worth checking for, as well. While most standard homeowners policies in Missouri cover wind damage, some insurers in high-risk areas exclude it entirely. In other cases, a policy may cover wind damage but only up to a separate, lower limit, or subject to a higher deductible than the one that applies to other claims. Wind deductibles are often calculated as a percentage of your home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount, which can mean a significantly higher out-of-pocket cost than you might expect.
To find out where you stand, look to your policy's declarations page — a one- or two-page summary at the front of your policy documents — and check for any line items that reference wind, windstorm, or named storms. Your policy's exclusions section will spell out anything that isn't covered. If the language is unclear, call your insurer directly and ask whether wind damage from a tornado is covered, whether a separate deductible applies, and what your policy limit is.
Wind & hail deductibles in Missouri
A deductible is the amount of damage you’re responsible for covering out of pocket in the event of an approved claim. Home insurance will cover the rest, up to your policy limit.
In Missouri, some homeowners policies carry a separate wind and hail deductible that applies specifically to losses from those causes. Wind/hail deductibles are often percentage-based as opposed to a flat-dollar amount (like your deductible for most other claims). Percentages range from 1% to 5% of your home’s insured value.
For example, if your home is insured for $350,000 and your wind/hail deductible is 2%, you would be responsible for the first $7,000 of any wind-related claim. You can find all the details specific to your policy on your declarations page. Your insurance agent can also walk you through your coverage details.
The coverage gap: Uninsured and underinsured Missouri homeowners
After the St. Louis EF3 tornado in May 2025, the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance estimated that up to 67% of homeowners in the hardest-hit north St. Louis neighborhoods were uninsured at the time of the storm. That's a staggering number — but not entirely surprising. Missouri homeowners aren't legally required to carry home insurance, and once a mortgage is paid off, there's no lender requiring it either. For some homeowners, especially those on fixed incomes, the cost of insurance leads them to drop coverage or let a policy lapse. Others may simply assume they're covered when they're not.
Being underinsured is a quieter but equally serious problem. Rising construction costs, labor shortages, and supply chain pressures have driven up the cost of rebuilding — in many cases faster than homeowners have updated their coverage. If your policy's dwelling coverage limit (the max amount an insurer will pay to rebuild the structure of your home) reflects what your home was worth several years ago, there's a good chance it wouldn't fully cover a rebuild today. The gap between what your insurer pays and what a contractor actually charges would come out of your pocket.
To financially protect yourself, ask your insurer about guaranteed or extended replacement cost coverage, which pays to rebuild your home to its pre-loss condition even if that cost exceeds your policy limit. At minimum, review your dwelling coverage amount annually and after any major renovation. A home that would cost $400,000 to rebuild today should not be insured for $280,000 — but that mismatch is more common than most homeowners realize.
Does Missouri homeowners insurance cover water damage after a tornado?
Tornado damage can trigger water damage coverage, but it depends on where the water comes from.
Rain that enters through a tornado-damaged roof is generally treated as wind damage and covered under your homeowners policy — though this can vary depending on your policy's specific language. Water that rises from the ground due to overwhelmed drainage systems, overflowing rivers or streams, or saturated soil is considered a flood event and isn't covered by a standard homeowners policy.
If you want to be covered for flooding, you have a few options. Some private insurers offer flood coverage as an endorsement — an add-on to your existing home insurance policy — or as a standalone flood insurance policy. Private flood insurance often comes with higher coverage limits, shorter waiting periods before your policy kicks in, and payouts based on replacement cost rather than your belongings' depreciated value. The other option is to get coverage through the NFIP, managed by FEMA.
Is Missouri at high risk for tornadoes?
Missouri experienced 120 tornadoes in 2025, resulting in 17 deaths — the third-highest tornado count in the U.S. that year, behind Texas and Illinois. The Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield areas carry some of the highest tornado exposure in the country. April through June is peak season, but tornadoes can and do occur year-round in Missouri.
How to avoid tornado damage to your home in Missouri
Since tornadoes are a common occurrence in Missouri, taking steps to protect your home before one strikes can make a real difference. Here are some ways to reduce your risk.
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Build or designate a safe room: A FEMA-rated storm shelter or interior safe room (a bathroom, closet, or basement interior room) is the most effective way to protect your family during a tornado.
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Inspect your roof regularly: Older or poorly maintained roofs are more likely to fail under high winds. Replace aging shingles before storm season and address any visible damage.
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Reinforce your garage door: Garage doors are one of the most vulnerable entry points during a tornado. Bracing kits or a wind-rated door significantly reduce the risk of structural failure.
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Consider impact-resistant windows: Standard glass can shatter easily under tornado-force winds. Installing impact-resistant windows or storm shutters can reduce the risk of damage.
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Secure or bring in outdoor objects: Before a storm, make sure patio furniture, grills, potted plants, and decorations are anchored or stored inside. Otherwise, they could become projectiles during a tornado.
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Create a home inventory: Make a list of all the belongings in your home with photos, receipts, and serial numbers, if applicable. This makes filing a personal property claim much easier after a windstorm.
How much does tornado insurance cost in Missouri?
Because tornado coverage is built into your homeowners policy, there's no separate tornado insurance cost in Missouri.
The average cost of home insurance* in Missouri is $1,604 per year for a Kin policy with $350,000 in dwelling coverage. How much you'll pay for coverage is likely to vary since rates are based on characteristics specific to you and your home. Some of the main factors that affect the cost of home insurance include:
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ZIP code
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Age of the home
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Roof condition
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Past claims
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Credit history
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Deductible
How to lower your tornado insurance costs in Missouri
Here are some tips for saving on home insurance costs:
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Upgrade your roof: Impact-resistant roofing materials can often reduce your overall insurance costs because they're less likely to sustain serious damage in a storm, which reduces the risk you pose to your insurer.
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Install a safe room or storm shelter: Some insurers offer a home insurance discount if you install a verified safe room in your home.
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Review your deductible: If your policy includes a separate wind and hail deductible, choosing a higher one will lower your annual premium (the amount you pay for coverage). Just make sure you could comfortably afford the deductible you choose out of pocket if a tornado damages your home.
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Bundle policies: Most insurers offer discounts of between 10% and 20% when you purchase two or more types of coverage — most commonly home and auto insurance, but other bundles may be available.
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Keep up with maintenance: Insurers may nonrenew policies or apply surcharges for homes with an aging roof or deferred maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
What type of insurance covers a tornado?
Standard homeowners insurance covers wind damage and structural losses caused by a tornado. If a tornado also leads to flooding through ground-level water intrusion, it would only be covered under a separate flood insurance policy or a flood endorsement. You should check your policy for wind/hail deductibles and any wind exclusions, which can affect what's paid out after a tornado claim.
What is the Missouri credit for storm damage?
Missouri's Homestead Disaster Tax Credit is a state tax credit that helps homeowners and renters offset the insurance deductible they paid after a qualifying 2025 disaster. The credit applies to damage caused by a disaster for which the Governor of Missouri requested a presidential disaster declaration in 2025 — which includes the May 2025 St. Louis tornado. If you qualify, the credit is worth up to $5,000 and can be applied dollar-for-dollar against your Missouri state income tax bill.
The credit is nonrefundable, meaning it can reduce your tax liability to zero but won't generate a refund — though any unused credit can generally be carried forward for up to 29 years.
One thing to be aware of: Payment has been temporarily paused due to an ongoing legal challenge involving the legislation that created the credit. The Missouri Department of Revenue is asking taxpayers to continue filing returns that claim the credit even though payments are currently delayed. No new credits can be authorized after Oct. 15, 2026.
