2024 has already seen more tornadoes than 2023 — and the year isn’t over yet. With 1,515 confirmed tornadoes as of late October, the 2024 tornado season is the most active since 2017. To compare, data from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found there were a total of 1,423 tornadoes in 2023.
If you live in one of the worst states for tornadoes, you are likely familiar with the basics of tornado prep: secure your windows, keep your trees trimmed, get your roof checked, etc. But, making sure your home insurance policy is up to snuff ahead of tornado damage can also be a major help. By ensuring your policy offers sufficient coverage, you may be better prepared to weather the storm.
The worst states for tornadoes ranked
A tornado usually forms after a thunderstorm, when humid air inside thunderclouds rises while cooler air falls. This creates a spinning cyclone of air that, when flipped vertically, becomes a supercell tornado. Tornado strength is measured on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, which gauges three-second wind gusts and related damage. EF0 storms have gusts as low as 65 mph, while EF5 tornadoes have wind speeds of 200-plus mph.
Expectedly, tornadoes are not spread evenly throughout the country; some states are significantly more vulnerable to tornado damage than others. Illinois, Alabama, Colorado and Texas saw the most tornadic activity in 2023 (the most recent year complete data are available).
What are the 10 worst states for tornadoes?
The table below lists the average cost of home insurance for the states with the most tornadoes compared to the national average cost, which is $2,304 per year for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage.
| State | Number of tornadoes in 2023 | Average cost of home insurance for a $300K dwelling policy | Difference from national average cost of home insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 136 | $2,407 | +$103 |
| Alabama | 101 | $2,817 | +$513 |
| Colorado | 89 | $3,222 | +$918 |
| Texas | 89 | $3,884 | +$1,580 |
| Mississippi | 81 | $3,285 | +$981 |
| Nebraska | 81 | $5,544 | +$3,240 |
| Iowa | 73 | $2,284 | -$20 |
| Georgia | 58 | $2,014 | -$290 |
| Ohio | 56 | $1,312 | -$992 |
| Tennessee | 53 | $2,321 | +$17 |
Of the top 10 tornado states, seven have home insurance costs that are higher than the national average. The elevated cost of home insurance in these regions may be tied to the greater risk of tornado damage, but that might not be the only force at play. Other natural disasters can affect the cost of home insurance in a particular state, as well. Plus, state insurance regulations can factor into the equation.
The states with the fewest tornadoes
While tornadoes occur in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., several states experience minimal tornadic activity in an average season. These states recorded no tornadoes in 2023:
Additionally, these states recorded three or fewer tornadoes last year:
While these states usually have the least tornadoes, each season differs. Even states that aren’t considered to be high-risk for tornadoes can experience dangerous convective storms that spawn tornadoes and cause widespread property damage.
Which states are in Tornado Alley?
Tornado Alley usually refers to states in the Great Plains, such as Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska. The northern tip of Texas is typically included, too. As the name implies, this region sees an above-average number of tornadoes each year.
Even if you own a home outside of Tornado Alley, that doesn’t mean you’re completely in the clear. Tornadoes are also common in Dixie Alley, which stretches across parts of the Southern United States. Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and some of Kentucky make up the bulk of Dixie Alley.
That said, Tornado Alley and Dixie Alley are not official meteorological designations, and tornadoes can still wreak havoc outside these areas. The Midwest, in particular, is experiencing an uptick in tornadoes. A study by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) showed that from 1979 to 2017, the number of tornadoes per year has been steadily increasing in Illinois and Indiana (among other states). Another study in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology reports increased tornado activity in the Midwest and Southeast.
The NSSL also notes that tornado hotspots tend to move depending on the season. In the cooler parts of the year, the Southeast experiences more tornadoes than the rest of the country, but that shifts to the South and Central United States in the spring. The Northern Plains and Midwest experience a heightened risk in the summer.
Does homeowners insurance cover tornadoes?
In some cases, home insurance will cover tornado damage to the structure of your home, its outbuildings and your personal belongings. Your policy will also likely cover damage from fallen trees that are blown onto your home during a storm. However, that may not be the case for all homeowners. Policies can vary from company to company, so some storm-related damage could be limited or excluded altogether.
Further, your home insurance policy might not offer enough coverage if you live in one of the worst states for tornadoes. In some high-risk counties in Texas, wind damage is not a covered peril. To be financially protected in the event of tornado damage, you would need a separate wind policy or an endorsement. Or in places like Florida, you may have a “named storm” deductible, which means a separate deductible applies if your home is damaged by hurricane winds or a tropical storm.
In addition to heavy winds, the intense convective storms that spawn tornadoes often cause floods. Flood damage is not covered by standard homeowners insurance. In order to be covered for flooding, you will need to purchase a separate flood policy.
The bottom line is that home insurance policies vary in coverage, so it’s a good idea to review yours with an insurance professional before tornado season begins.
How home insurance can help you financially recover from a tornado
Your home insurance policy can help you financially recover after a natural disaster like a tornado. An insurance contract transfers the bulk of the financial risk of rebuilding or repairing your home to an insurance company. That way, if your home is completely destroyed or seriously damaged, you won’t need to pay for everything out of pocket.
Shannon Martin, licensed agent and Bankrate analyst, points out that protecting the financial investment you’ve made in your home could require revisiting the types and amounts of coverage you have in place if you haven’t given thought to your policy in recent years.
Inflation caused the cost of hardware and building supplies to spike and remain high. For homeowners, this means you may be underinsured. Speak with your agent to see if your home policy automatically accounts for inflation and if your coverage has kept up with the unprecedented rise in inflation that we have experienced over the last few years.
— Shannon Martin, Bankrate Insurance Analyst
Raising your dwelling coverage limit may not be cost-effective for all homeowners, though. According to average rate data from Quadrant Information Services, a policy with a $350K dwelling limit costs around $260 more per year than a policy with a $300K limit. Depending on your insurance company, it may be cheaper to purchase an extended dwelling replacement endorsement in lieu of raising your coverage limits. This endorsement allows you to increase your dwelling coverage limit by a certain amount, usually between 10 and 30 percent, for better financial protection in the event of major damage or a total loss.
Prepping your home for tornadoes
In addition to making sure your home insurance covers you in the event of a tornado, there are some things you can do before and after a storm to mitigate your risk and minimize damage. The following tips can help you prepare for a natural disaster by physically safeguarding your home and belongings. If you live in an area where tornadoes are common, you may want to:
- Strengthen your garage by reinforcing it with vertical bracing.
- Reinforce your roof with hurricane clips.
- Secure your windows with plywood and clips.
- Remove branches and trees on the verge of breaking or overhanging your roof.
- Keep important paper records in a secure location in waterproof containers.
- Invest in a storm-proof safe room.
These preparations could make an enormous difference should a disaster strike. If the worst does happen, having a detailed home inventory, including “before” pictures of valuable belongings and the inside and outside of your home, can be helpful if you need to file a property insurance claim. Such an inventory should be stored online (as opposed to on your hard drive) or on a flash drive in a waterproof container.
Frequently asked questions
Read the full article here
