By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – One Tucson family is dealing with the aftermath of last weekend’s severe weather — and doing it without renters insurance.
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Matt Baquet said he was away from home when 80 mph winds swept through the Tucson area last Saturday night. Shortly after, a friend sent him a photo.
“My neighbor texted me shortly after I had that thought with a photo of my roof in the driveway,” Baquet said. “So I rushed home and walked into a pretty devastating scene.”
‘It looks like a tornado came through the house’
The damage extended well beyond the roof.
Baquet returned to find water pouring in from above, and collapsed insulation and sheetrock scattered across his living room.
“I thought like, oh, there could be some big leaks, you know, but it was well beyond what I was expecting,” Baquet said. “It’s crazy — it looks like a tornado came through the house.”
What renters insurance covers
Farmer’s Insurance agent Amber Eghtesadi said renters insurance protects personal property from monsoon damage caused by water leaks, falling objects, and other debris.
She said many renters assume their landlord’s policy covers damage to the home itself, but that renters insurance can also cover temporary housing if a rental is deemed uninhabitable, often called a ‘loss of use’ policy.
Eghtesadi said she learned that lesson firsthand before entering the insurance industry.
“I lived in an apartment, and a pipe burst, flooded the apartment. I didn’t have renters insurance, I had nowhere to stay,” Eghtesadi said. “So it’s really good to have that because you don’t think about those things.”
She said renters insurance will provide coverage for personal belongings damaged by traditional monsoon activity, but that separate insurance is required for flood damage.
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Baquet urges other renters to act before more storms arrive
Without renters insurance, Baquet said he has not yet determined the full cost of the damage.
“When you factor in the temporary housing and everything, it’s going to be more than I’d like to spend,” he said.
Baquet said he hopes his situation serves as a warning to other renters ahead of continued monsoon activity.
“If you don’t have renters insurance, you should think about getting it before we get two weeks of rain here,” Baquet said.
Eghtesadi said renters insurance is not always required, but encourages renters to explore available options for protecting their personal property.
She said the internet is a good place to start, but recommends contacting a personal insurance agent for individualized help.
Banquet launched a GoFundMe drive to help recover and has raised more than $17,000.
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