What Are ‘Acts Of God’ In Homeowner Insurance?

​Your home, personal items, and other buildings and structures on your land are covered by a home insurance policy. But what if a natural disaster damages your home? In terms of home insurance, what specifically is an "act of God?"

An “Act of God” Clause
An "act of God" is a phenomenon that occurs due to uncontrollable natural forces. Natural disasters such as flooding, lightning damage, and tornadoes are examples of acts of God.

Many insurance plans include an act of God clause that helps specify which acts of God the policy covers and which are not. Many insurance providers charge a predetermined fee for such damage limitations. They may even provide completely separate coverage. 

Acts of God Coverage
Some homeowner insurance policies only cover damage to the home due to certain acts of God. But not to the policyholder's additional structures and buildings.

Acts of Nature

• Fires
• Explosions
• Lightning
• Smoke damage
• Falling objects (trees or tree branches)
• Volcanic eruptions
• Spoiled food from a power outage
• Wind damage from tornadoes and hurricanes

Acts of Humans
Civil unrest and riots damage
Theft and vandalism
Explosions, fire, and smoke from terrorism

Acts of God VS. Force Majeure
In general, an act of God solely refers to natural events. An act of God could not be predicted or stopped, and for which no human is responsible. Meanwhile, force majeure refers to natural disasters and unusual conditions caused by human involvement.

Natural disasters

• Earthquakes
• High-risk areas for windstorms
• Mudslides
• Flood damage

Man-made disasters

• Environmental contamination
• Acts of war
• Rodents, mold, and other pests damage
• An overflowing sump pump, sewer system, or drain
• Chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks from terrorists

Proximate Cause
A proximate cause occurs when an event harms your house and is ordinarily not included in your policy. However, it becomes covered due to its connection to a previously covered event. In this situation, the initial event in the series of events may be responsible for the coverage of future events.

Policyholders should evaluate their policies carefully to understand what types of damages are insured by acts of God. They can then decide whether or not to get supplementary coverage to protect themselves and their property from specific threats.

Conclusion
Acts of God do not exempt anyone from exercising reasonable caution. However, what constitutes a natural disaster varies by region. Policyholders should review acts of God coverage options and exclusions.

At Arnold Insurance Agency, LLC, we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that make your life easier. We want to help you get insurance that fits your needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at  (318) 965-5953. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE. Any coverage discussed is not guaranteed. Please contact us today to go over your policy to ensure your needs are met! We are here and happy to help.