Winter Storms risk in Illinois

Your closing is in February, and the seller's disclosure says the roof is "older." You drive by the house after a January thaw and see a stain on the ceiling. Welcome to winter in Illinois.

Why Illinois looks like this

Illinois has no mountains to block Arctic air. It sits flat in the middle of the country, and Lake Michigan adds moisture that turns into lake-effect snow in Cook, Lake, and McHenry counties. A single storm can drop a foot on Chicagoland and glaze southern Illinois with half an inch of ice in the same day.

The state's winter risk varies a lot by region. Northern Illinois — Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, and Cook — gets colder temperatures and more snow. Central Illinois — Peoria, Tazewell, Champaign, Sangamon — gets ice storms and heavy, wet snow that snaps tree limbs. Southern Illinois — Madison, St. Clair, Williamson — sees more freezing rain than powder, which means power outages and slick roads.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency rates winter storms as a level 4 of 5 statewide risk. That's not hype. It means every county in Illinois has a history of winter storm damage, from collapsed barns in Lee County to ice-jammed rivers in Rock Island.

Insurance gaps people miss

Your standard homeowners policy covers damage from the weight of ice and snow on your roof. It covers frozen pipes if you kept the heat on. It covers wind damage from a blizzard. That's the good news.

The gaps are bigger than most people think. First, flood damage from snowmelt or ice jams is excluded. If the Rock River backs up into your basement in March, your homeowners policy won't pay. You need a separate flood policy through NFIP or a private insurer. Second, wind and hail deductibles are often percentage-based — 1% to 5% of your dwelling coverage — not a flat $1,000. A $300,000 house with a 2% wind deductible means you pay the first $6,000. Third, if you turn your heat off to save money while you're away and a pipe bursts, the claim may be denied. Fourth, ice dam removal itself is rarely covered. The water stain on your ceiling might be covered; the $800 to chip the ice off your gutter usually isn't.

Read your declarations page before the first freeze. Look for "windstorm" or "hail" deductibles, and look for any exclusion for "freezing" or "weight of ice and snow." If you don't understand it, call your agent and ask for the exact dollar amount you'd pay out of pocket.

A practical weekend plan

You don't need a bunker. You need a few hours and a little money.

• Add insulation to your attic floor and wrap exposed pipes in the basement and crawlspace. This is the highest-return fix for ice dams.
• Buy a roof rake with a long handle. After a heavy snow, pull the bottom four feet of snow off your roof from the ground. Never climb a snowy roof.
• Keep your thermostat at 55°F or higher, even when you're away. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls during cold snaps.
• Build a car kit: blanket, flashlight, jumper cables, sand or cat litter, phone charger, snacks. Keep your gas tank above half.
• Never run a generator or space heater indoors. That's a carbon monoxide story you don't want to be part of.

If I had one weekend and $300, I'd spend it on pipe insulation and a roof rake before I'd buy a generator. The generator won't stop the ice dam. The rake might.

Questions we get

Does homeowners insurance cover ice dams in Illinois?

Usually the water damage inside your home is covered, but the cost to remove the ice dam itself often isn't. Some policies cover removal if it's necessary to prevent damage, but many don't. Check the "weight of ice and snow" section of your policy, then call your agent and ask directly.

What's the difference between a winter storm watch and a warning?

A watch means conditions are possible in the next 24 to 48 hours. A warning means it's happening or about to happen. The National Weather Service issues both. Treat a warning like a knock on the door.

Do I need flood insurance for snowmelt in Illinois?

Yes, if you live near a river, creek, or in a low-lying area. Snowmelt and ice-jam flooding are excluded from standard homeowners policies. Most Illinois counties participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, but there's typically a 30-day waiting period. Don't wait for the thaw to buy it.

Official maps and agencies

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency
• NWS Winter Weather Safety
• Ready.gov – Winter Weather
• CDC – Winter Weather