What is considered an “Act of God”?

An “Act of God” is legally defined as “an event that directly and exclusively results from the occurrence of natural causes that could not have been prevented by the exercise of foresight or caution,” or in other words, an inevitable accident.

Acts of God include harsh windstorms, snowstorms, hail, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods. Homeowners’ insurance policies can exclude damage caused by some Acts of God.

But what is considered an Act of God isn’t always crystal clear. Fires are one example: An accidental home fire is not considered an Act of God, but a fire caused by a lightning strike is.

So is your home covered by Acts of God? The answer is: It depends. The policy you purchased will show specifically what’s covered and what’s excluded. Your policy will likely refer to risks as “perils” and not Acts of God. Your best bet is to meet with your insurance rep and ask, because unless you have additional riders, damage from floods or earthquakes, for example, won’t be covered.