What type of coverage does your Mass home insurance
include? Many residents have policies that compensate for universal
risks such as fire, theft, and vandalism. How about tornadoes? According
to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service,
Massachusetts saw 9 tornadoes from January 1st, 2001 to December 31st,
2010. During that decade, twisters created $1.815 million worth of
damage.
• Princeton experienced a tornado on June 17th, 2001 which cost the affected residents $25,000.
• On June 30th, 2001, Bellingham citizens watched a twister roll through their area but fortunately it caused no damage.
• On July 23, 2002, West Brookfield homeowners were hit with $50k of repair bills after a storm ravaged the area.
• August 20-21, 2004 brought 2 tornadoes to the state – the first, in
Pittsfield ($25,000 of damage) and the second in Franklin ($1.5
million).
• Great Barrington was the next to be hit on June 29, 2005, but the tornado dissipated without damaging property.
• The strongest in the decade struck on July 11, 2006 in Wendell, costing residents $200,000.
• New Braintree saw a storm on July 19, 2007, but incurred no repair bills.
• Another struck on July 23, 2008 in South Swansea and caused $15k of damage.
While a tornado
may only strike about once a year in the state, there is no way to know
if that twister will whirl by harmlessly or decimate an entire
neighborhood. It is best then to be prepared with the appropriate Mass home insurance
to ensure you can access compensation after the disaster.
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