A freak July hailstorm pelted Consumers Union's Yonkers, N.Y. headquarters last night, leaving huge, bizarre piles of white pellets in our parking lot. Winds felled trees, flattened grass, and left the ground covered in green leaves peeled from branches and limbs.

This out-of-season storm reminded me of the importance of getting the right homeowners insurance for the unexpected, and of checking your current policy to see what's covered. Hail is a covered peril in the typical homeowners policy, as is damage from wind storms, fire and theft. Flood, however, is not covered, and you'd be surprised what's defined as flooding. Mudflows and water seepage through your foundation's walls, for instance, are not covered by homeowners insurance provided by a private insurer; for those risks, you'll need to buy National Flood Insurance from the Federal Government.

Click here for more on getting the best coverage for your home, and avoiding home insurance traps. For more on saving on homeowners coverage, click here. And for information on National Flood Insurance,  click here. 

Thanks to Gannett's Journal News for the video. But please, spell our facilities manager's name correctly: It's Caluori!–Tobie Stanger