Check where your downspouts drain before September storms

The 2026 Atlantic season has produced three named storms so far, Arthur in June, Bertha in July, and Cristobal in August, according to the National Hurricane Center. September is still ahead. Homedit makes a small point worth acting on before it arrives: check where your downspouts actually put the water. Plenty of them dump it straight against the foundation, a few feet from the wall.

Water is where a homeowners policy draws its sharpest lines. Sudden damage, a burst supply line or rain driven through a hole the wind opened in your roof, is usually covered. Water that pools at the foundation, seeps in slowly, or rises off the ground is usually not. Surface flooding needs a separate flood policy, and NFIP coverage typically carries a 30-day waiting period, so buying it once a system is on the map does not help you. Extending a downspout a few feet away from the house and clearing the gutters costs almost nothing, and it removes one of the most common causes of a claim your carrier will deny.

An independent agent can confirm whether your policy includes water backup coverage, check whether you need flood, and price it while the 30-day clock still has room.