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For immediate release
New York Press Office: Michael Barry, 917-923-8245,��michaelb@iii.org

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NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2023—With winter arriving officially on Thursday, Dec. 21, preparing for snow, ice, and frigid temperatures should be a priority for homeowners, renters, and drivers throughout much of the U.S., according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).

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“Since the costliest winter insurance event in U.S. history occurred in 2021, after a deep freeze caused widespread property damage in multiple states, reducing the risks caused by colder temperatures has taken on added urgency,” said Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I.�� “Risk mitigation is the key to reducing property damage and one of the reasons insurers and policyholders are moving away from ‘detect and repair’ and toward ‘predict and prevent.’”

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To protect homes, rental units, and cars during the winter months, the Triple-I offers the following guidance.

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Inside Your Home

• Keep your home heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. This will help prevent pipes inside the walls from freezing
• Open hot and cold faucets enough to let them drip. Keeping water moving within the pipes will help prevent freezing
• Check that fireplaces, wood stoves, and electric heaters are working properly. Make sure there are no combustible items near heat sources
• Keep your fireplace flue closed when it is not in use

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Outside Your Home
The weight of snow and ice can damage a roof. Clogged gutters might allow water to seep into a house. Taking these steps should reduce these potential hazards from occurring outside a home as snow and ice accumulate.

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• Keep sidewalks and entrances free from snow and ice so no one sustains an injury while walking
• Watch for ice dams near gutter downspouts. Ice dams can cause water to seep into a house
• Clear gutters of leaves and debris to allow runoff from melting snow and ice to flow freely
• Check for dead, damaged, or dangerous tree branches and have them removed. When stressed, branches can fall and damage a house or car, or injure a pedestrian

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Insurance Coverage for Winter Weather-Caused Property Damage

��policies provide coverage for damage caused by wind, snow, and ice to property and personal possessions. �� policies provide coverage for winter weather-caused damage (e.g., burst pipes) to personal possessions.

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Property damage caused by flooding is��not��covered by either standard homeowners or renters insurance��policies. Melting snow that seeps into a home, apartment, or condominium from the ground up would be covered by flood insurance. It is provided by and several private insurers.

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An individual involved in a car accident between two or more vehicles caused by wintry road conditions is covered by a standard auto insurance policy. If a tree falls on a car, or if it sustains flood damage, the damage is covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy. Single-vehicle accidents may be covered by either comprehensive or collision coverage. Nearly 80 percent of U.S. drivers purchase these optional coverages.

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RELATED LINKS:

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Article:���������������������� Surviving Severe Cold Weather

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