Spring arrives fast in Louisville — and so does storm season. Between March and June, the Louisville metro sees an average of several significant storm events per year, including tornado warnings, large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding. Running through a quick insurance checklist before the season starts can save you significant stress and money if something goes wrong.
Check Your Dwelling Coverage Limit
Your dwelling coverage should reflect what it would actually cost to rebuild your home from scratch today — not what you paid for it, and not what it would sell for. Construction costs have increased substantially in recent years. If you haven’t updated your coverage in the last two or three years, there’s a real chance you’re underinsured. Call your agent and ask for a current replacement cost estimate.
Understand Your Wind and Hail Deductible
Many Kentucky homeowners policies have a separate wind/hail deductible that’s higher than the standard all-peril deductible. Check your declarations page — it’s usually expressed as a percentage of your dwelling coverage (1% or 2%) rather than a flat dollar amount. Knowing this number before a storm means no surprises when you file a claim.
Check Your Roof’s Age and Condition
Louisville’s spring hail storms are one of the most common sources of roof damage claims in the area. Roofs over 20 years old may have limited coverage options — some carriers will only pay actual cash value (depreciated) rather than replacement cost for older roofs. If your roof is aging, it’s worth a conversation with your agent before storm season about what your policy actually covers.
Review Your ALE Coverage
Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage pays for a hotel, meals, and other costs if your home is uninhabitable after a covered event. Make sure your ALE limit is realistic — hotel costs in Louisville can add up quickly if repairs take weeks or months. A limit of 20-30% of your dwelling coverage is a reasonable target.
Don’t Forget Flood
Spring storms bring heavy rain, and heavy rain causes flooding. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood. Beargrass Creek, Floyds Fork, and other Louisville waterways can overflow during sustained rain events, and urban drainage systems can back up even in neighborhoods not traditionally associated with flood risk. See our flood insurance page for options. The NFIP has a 30-day waiting period — don’t wait until a storm is forecast.
Document Your Belongings Now
Walk through your home with your phone and record a video of every room, including inside closets and cabinets. Upload it to cloud storage. This documentation is invaluable when filing a personal property claim after a storm event.
Get a Pre-Season Coverage Review
Call (502) 214-3200 or request a review online. A 15-minute conversation before storm season can identify gaps and give you peace of mind. Also see our tornado season guide for more on what your policy covers.
