The September 2008 windstorm that hit the Miami Valley and southwest Ohio served as a brisk reminder of the risks of going without insurance.

The windstorm caused more than $550 million in insured losses statewide, with 131,624 claims reported, according to Ohio Insurance Institute's Oct. 7 estimate.

"It's one of the largest number of claims we've ever been exposed to, short of the hailstorm in 2001," said Mike Witt, a Nationwide Insurance agent in Centerville whose office has handled 177 windstorm-related claims so far.

While the windstorm may have been a "once-in-a-lifetime" event, Witt said, policyholders would be wise to make sure their homeowners policy covers live tree debris removal, even when the trees haven't fallen on a structure, as well as food spoilage.

Coverage specifics vary by insurer. But typically, costs to remove downed trees are covered up to $1,000 ($500 per tree), according to OII. Some property owners, however, had such significant tree damage that they paid more out of pocket than their insurance carrier, Witt said. Opportunities to upgrade such coverage are limited.

While homeowners policies cover wind damage, they don't cover flood damage, the most common natural cause of property damage in Ohio, said Mitch Wilson, OII spokesman.

For such protection, property owners must purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

That's not an option for folks in a handful of local towns that have opted out of NFIP: Castine, Corwin, Farmersville, Fort Loramie, Jackson Center, Ludlow Falls, New Lebanon, Oakwood and Wayne Lakes. Residents of these towns can't purchase flood insurance policies, Wilson said.

Wilson offers these tips:

• When shopping around, ask an agent, "What's excluded in this policy?"
• Schedule an insurance check-up annually.
• Do preventative maintenance on diseased or damaged trees and limbs, even if you have insurance. You may avoid paying a deductible.
• Assess your flood risk at floodsmart.gov.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7457 or bsutherly@DaytonDailyNews.com.