[TowerTalk] insurance and towers

[chris]

Alan NV8A (ex. AB2OS) wrote:
> Obviously it varies from company to company. Could it vary from state to 
> state, since insurance is often (always?) regulated by the state?
> 
> I asked about insurance for my tower, and the agent said that, as long 
> as it's attached (and the attachment could be purely nominal) to the 
> house, it's covered as an accessory structure. This is Citizens 
> Insurance; I'm in Michigan.
> 
> Alan NV8A
> 
> 
> On 12/29/04 03:34 am Jim Jarvis tossed the following ingredients into 
> the ever-growing pot of cybersoup:
> 
>> In the course of commenting on tower ratings, I realized that
>> I hadn't seen a post on insurance.  Or if I had, I've forgotten.
>>
>> In the US, in the post-9/11 environment, the insurance industry
>> has become highly risk averse.  They had under-priced homeowners
>> insurance in many areas of the country, as a loss-leader for more
>> profitable lines, like life and auto.  (and the payout on the NY towers
>> was shared across the entire industry.)
>>
>> In addition, there is now a firm called "CLUE", or Comprehensive
>> Loss Underwriters Exchange, which provides a loss history which
>> all carriers can see.
>>
>> As a result, you need to be VERY careful with what you claim.
>> Or even inquire about.
>>
>> In 2002, in the backwash of hurricane Lili, I lost a 100' tower
>> and antenna system when a 90' oak fell across a guyset.  In the
>> same storm,  I had a branch break off a 150' tall white pine, and
>> damage my roof.  The insurance company logged that as two claims.
>>
>> Earlier that year,  we had two events with large trees downed, touching
>> the house.  I called the insurance carrier to verify coverage in one.
>> My wife called in the other, as I was away.   They logged them as
>> claims, with no payout.
>>
>> Now, I am having difficulty getting homeowners insurance on my place 
>> in MD,
>> even though I am not in the deep woods any longer.  I'm paying double the
>> market
>> rate, with a carrier which is in state receivership. I will continue
>> in that situation for a period of 3 years.
>>
>> And THAT was after 30 years with the same carrier having home, car, boat,
>> $1M liability umbrella, and life insurance, and no real claims history.
>>
>> Short form:  It may be worthwhile to examine specific tower insurance,
>> through the ARRL program.  Some homeowners policies are excluding towers
>> and other accessory structures, as well, so you have to check.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
> Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with 
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 
My insurance company covers my tower,too, because it is attached to the 
house.  The agent said that covering it in any event was not a hassle or 
expensive.  Allstate.

-- 
Chris

In theory, theory and practice are the same.  In practice, they are 
different.