Homeownersinsurance provides financial protection against disasters. A standardpolicy insures the home itself and the things you keep in it.

Homeownersinsurance is a package policy. This means that it covers both damage toyour property and your liability or legal responsibility for anyinjuries and property damage you or members of your family cause toother people. This includes damage caused by household pets.

Damage caused by most disasters is covered but there are exceptions.The most significant are damage caused by floods, wind storms and poormaintenance. You must buy two separate policies for flood andwindstorms coverage. Maintenance-related problems are the homeowners'responsibility.