HAZARD

Winter weather

Freezing, snow load, and ice — the common home losses are burst pipes and roof stress.

FEMA National Risk Index & Ready.gov (reviewed) · reviewed 2026-07-06

What raises the risk

• Cold-climate regions and areas that see occasional hard freezes they aren't built for.
• Uninsulated pipes, poor attic insulation, and flat or aging roofs.
• Loss of power during a storm, which removes heat.

How to prepare

• Insulate pipes and know how to shut off your water; let taps drip in hard freezes.
• Keep the home heated, clear roof and gutters of heavy snow and ice dams safely.
• Have blankets, a backup heat source used safely, and supplies for a multi-day outage.

Insurance

Burst-pipe and snow-load damage are often covered by standard policies, but frozen-pipe claims can be denied if the home wasn't kept heated. Confirm the conditions with a licensed agent.