Storm damage and insurance: 'Hopefully it will be covered'

EUGENE, Ore. - Alice Rose returned home Sunday night to a surprise.

"I saw the blue tarp and I said, 'oh, something's happened to the house,'" the River Road neighborhood resident said.

A tree pierced her roof, leaving a huge hole over the garage.

Rose immediately called her insurance agent to find out what the damage was going to cost her.

"Hopefully it will be covered," she said.

Insurance agent Kevin Reimer said most storm damage is covered by homeowners insurance.

"Besides the deductible, there shouldn't be much of any cost for the homeowner," he said.

But Reimer told KVAL News that most homeowners don't know what their policy covers, so it's important to review it.

"What is covered?" he said. "I think it's good for the homeowner to know what perils are covered, what's not, what to do in a situation like this."

For example, Oregon State University scientists say Northwest residents should be prepared for a massive earthquake.

Reimer said earthquake insurance is optional in Oregon.

"The worst thing that can happen is you've got damage and there's no coverage for it," Reimer said. "I actually just added it this last year. I think mine was about $150 a year, but depending on how much coverage you need on your home is going to dictate what the additional premium is."

Flood insurance is required in some flood-prone areas but is optional for other homes. Reimer said flood insurance is run through the federal government. The rates depend on where you live.

"If they're not in a flood zone," he said, it's not that expensive."