Homeowners insurance protects homeowners from damage to their home and property from covered events.
But what does that mean for homeowners concerned about landslides and mudslide damage?
Does homeowners insurance cover damage from landslides and mudslides
Homeowners will need separate insurance for damage from landslides and mudslides, because they aren’t covered by homeowners insurance.
Homeowners insurance covers your property from damage, referred to as insurance perils. A peril is an event that may damage your home or belongings.
Most homeowners insurance covers named perils, which are events that are specifically listed in your insurance policy. Common insurance perils include fire, lightning, theft, ice, snow, sleet, wind, hail, smoke, vandalism, and freezing.
Earthquakes, floods, government seizures, mudslides, ordinance updates, sewer backups and sinkholes are all perils that will not be covered by homeowners insurance, according to Hippo Insurance. Those will require an add-on rider or separate coverage.
| Coverage | Included with Homeowners Insurance |
| Dwelling/Structure | Yes |
| Personal liability | Yes |
| Personal belongings | Yes |
| Loss of Use (additional living expenses) | Yes |
| High-end electronics/special jewelry | Limited, requires add-on* |
| Equipment breakdown | Yes* |
| Electrical outage | Yes* |
| Service lines | Yes* |
| Cyber liability | Yes* |
| Water damage | Yes |
| Flood | No** |
| Wind or hail | Yes, but not high winds*** |
| Earthquakes | No* |
| Pets | Yes* |
*Available as add-on coverage if not part of policy
**Flood insurance is available through the NFIP and approved insurers
***If you live in hurricane or tornado areas, additional windstorm rider may be required
Landslide vs. mudslide vs. mudflow coverage
Landslides, mudslides, and mudflow are not covered perils under homeowners insurance. There is a difference between landslides, mudslides, and mudflow, and you’ll need to understand this if you need coverage for any of the three.
Mudflow is when heavy rains create a moving mass of mud and debris. Mudflow is covered under flood insurance. Flood insurance can be purchased separately from FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program or private insurers.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, “mudslides occur when a mass of earth or rock moves downhill [but they] don’t contain enough liquid to seep into your home, and aren’t eligible for flood insurance coverage.”
Landslides are the rapid movement of rock or earth usually as a result of water erosion. Although landslides are earth movements, they are not covered under earthquake insurance.
Coverage from mudslides and landslides require a “Difference in Conditions” (DIC) policy that usually “offers all-in-one coverage for landslides, mudflows, earthquakes, and floods and are sold by surplus lines insurers,” according to the Insurance Information Institute.
| Damage | Homeowners Insurance | Flood Insurance | Earthquake Insurance | “Difference in Conditions” Insurance |
| Mudflow | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Mudslide | No | No | No | Yes |
| Landslide | No | No | No | Yes |
| Earthquake | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Flood | No | Yes | No | Yes |
What is “difference in conditions” (DIC) insurance
“Difference in Conditions” (DIC) insurance is “a policy designed to broaden coverage by providing additional limits of coverage for specific perils when standard markets won’t provide adequate limits of coverage, providing coverage for perils that are excluded on standard coverage forms,” according to the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI).
DIC policies are also known as gap-filler policies. DIC provides coverage for perils excluded from named and open peril policies, like earthquakes, floods, landslides, and mudslides.
What to do if you experience a landslide, mudslide or mudflow damage
After experiencing a disaster, take the following steps when submitting a homeowners insurance claim:
1. Contact the insurance carrier to file a claim in a timely manner. Your carrier may provide a list of contractors and offer advice on do-it-yourself tips to prevent further damage.
2. Take pictures of the damage before disposal and cleanup.
3. Beware of price-gouging contractors and door-to-door scammers. Ask contractors for their license and insurance credentials to avoid fraud.
4. Prevent further damage to your property.
Don’t do something you’re not comfortable with/that doesn’t look safe. Homeowners insurance has a condition to prevent further loss. Focus on a temporary fix instead of something long-term so insurance can properly access a permanent fix by a professional.
Customer service is key for homeowners in disaster-prone areas. Homeowners need to understand the risks and have good coverage with an up-to-date policy.
Ronda is an attorney, writer, and entrepreneur. She is a contributing writer for the Huffington Post. Originally from Chicago, she has lived in Los Angeles and New York. She loves to travel and is passionate about education equity, especially for first generation college students.