Your Homeowner’s Policy and Natural Disasters

Your Homeowner’s Policy

and

Natural Disasters

AN UNEXPECTED EXPLOSION:

At majestic Yellowstone National Park an explosion took place that was not man made, or even expected.  

Yellowstone’s Biscuit Bay was the sight for what is termed by scientists as a hydro-thermal explosion. Which sent water, and debris into the air and tourists running for their cars.

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

This occurrence took place when water trapped underground rapidly turns to steam causing an explosion. But enough of the scientific analysis, what about Insurance, what about all of those Nikon that were saturated with water, and what about the clothes and shoes that cannot be worn again?

THE EXPLOSION AND YOUR POLICY:

Having worked at a State Recreation Area when I was in school, I know that most of the people that were too close for comfort to the explosion will be concerned about their photographic equipment. The most common policy form is the Homeowners 3 Special Form. What we will be doing is examining the potential avenues for coverage for items of Personal Property destroyed in the Biscuit Bay explosion.

In “Section I - Property Coverage”, the following is states“

COVERAGE C - Personal Property

We cover personal property owned or used by an insured while it is anywhere in the world. At our request, we will cover personal property owned by:

1. Others while the property is on the part of the residence premises occupied by an insured,

2. A guest or a residence employee, while the property is in any residence occupied by an insured.”

COVERAGE IS APPLICABLE-

I believe the first sentence in the Coverage C definition is enough to imply that coverage for personal property was applicable for those who had their photographic equipment and other items of personal property with them prior to the explosion, and suffered damage.

Respectfully,

Norman Lambe

nwlambe@gmail.com