Most farm insurance policies will cover your assets in case a covered peril strikes. Among most covered perils is severe weather coverage.
If a weather disaster strikes your farm, you could face significant agricultural losses. For that reason, policies usually provide a comfortable level of weather coverage.
Nonetheless, comprehensive farm policies come with coverage limits. After you’ve met your deductible, your policy will pay for damages up to the price of that coverage limit. If you carry $1 million in coverage, then your policy could conceivably pay for up to $1 million in damages.
However, damages in severe weather could easily exceed the values of your policies. You can take steps before severe weather strikes to try to reduce the risk of potential damages. If you do so, you can reduce the chance that you will exceed your policy limits.
Securing Your Farm Before Severe Weather
Severe weather can always strike without warning. However, you usually have a chance to take steps in good weather to prevent future damages. If severe weather is predictable, make sure you secure your farm beforehand.
- If severe cold or snow threatens, move your livestock to safe places. That way, you can better ensure that they won’t suffer from exposure. Also secure any agricultural stores to make sure they won’t spoil. Secure machinery in a way that will prevent freezing or corrosion from extreme cold.
- Ensure that your buildings are strong and insulated. The structural safety of these buildings can reduce the risk of severe damages. Make sure that there aren't fire risks in the buildings.
- Protect your livestock. During severe weather, move livestock indoors. Keep them away from danger as best you can. Also make sure that you give animals any food or water to keep them calm during the worst of the storm.
- Before storms, make sure you have a detailed inventory of your livestock and crop value. This inventory can help account for any missing animals or damaged crops in the event of losses.
- Store machinery in safe places that can insulate it from the storm. Make sure that you keep your machinery insured and maintained.
- Consider what weather most affects your farm. This can help you tailor your insurance policy to best meet your needs.
Protect your assets in a responsible way. If you negligently maintain your farm, you could have a hard time getting insurance to cover storm damage claims.
The Beckman Company can help you get the right Oklahoma City farm insurance to protect your farm from storms. Give us a call today at (800) 699-5905 for more information.