Protecting Your Dwelling in Arkansas

Just like almost every state in the country, homeowners in Arkansas need to be aware of the state's unique characteristics when purchasing a policy. Unfortunately for it's residents, the state receives its fair share of natural disasters, many of which can cause massive amounts of damage to homes. With the high cost of home repairs, it would be ludicrous to not have a decent coverage plan in the state. Before you purchase your policy, take a look at these important considerations:

Considerations to Make

One of the main factors in determining your premium is your location and types of risks associated with living there. For instance, living in an area with a high crime rate can raise your rates, as can living anywhere that frequently receives bad weather. Because of the many perils homeowners face, they typically end up paying more for their plan than residents in other states. Considering how much money we invest in our homes though, the high premiums seem well worth it. Here's a look at some of the types of risks that residents should have coverage for in their policies:

• Like many of the other Midwest states, tornadoes pose the greatest risk to homes in Arkansas. With wind speeds capable of reaching 100 miles per hour, a single tornado has the potential to cause thousands of dollars in damage to hundreds of people in just a few minutes. Although tornado warnings are more efficient today, they can still occur anywhere at anytime and there's little anyone can do to prevent them from causing damage. Fortunately, most standard policies cover tornado damage, they just simply refer to it as wind. Contact your provider if you're not sure if you're covered.
• Flood coverage is also important for many homes in the state, which is prone to flash floods. For most standard plans, flood damage is not covered. However, almost every provider offers special add-ons that provides coverage for flood damage. If your home is at all vulnerable to floods, the cost of protection is definitely worth the higher price.
• While it may be more expensive, most residents should probably consider the highest form of protection available. There's no telling just what types of disasters could occur and it's best to simply be prepared for all of them. Arkansas has it's own rich history of seemingly odd disasters and occurrences, from an accidental missile site explosion in 1980 to several sharp earthquakes through the 1900's.
• No matter which type of plan you decide to purchase, consider adding coverage for your personal belongings as well. Whether its from tornadoes, fires, robberies, or anything else, you don't want to risk losing your personal property.

Do you have some other questions about insuring your home? From the state insurance department, you can find helpful data about each individual division, their annual reports, newsletters, and more:

Arkansas Insurance Department

1200 West Third Street

Little Rock, AR 72201-1904

(501)371-2600 or 1-800-282-9134

(501) 371-2618 fax