From the Gulf oil spill and the floods in Arkansas and Oklahoma to the procession of hurricanes forecast for this year, the stage is set for major property damage in 2010.
Yet people looking to bolster their homeowners-insurance protection are likely to find that premiums are pricier, and extra coverage is harder to get, than ever before.
Spending for quality coverage can pay off when disaster strikes, says Chari Hust, 55 years old, of Houston. Ms. Hust, a registered nurse, and her husband, Bob, 57, a cardiologist, suffered major damage on their primary and vacation homes in Sept. 2008, when Hurricane Ike pounded eastern Texas. The Husts’ second home, on Lake Livingston, outside Houston, had much of its roof blown off, exposing all the contents to wind-driven rain.
Ms. Hust says that unlike some of her neighbors, she and her husband had no problems settling claims. “You may pay more,” she says, “but if you have a catastrophe, it is worth having the right insurance.”
