Residents of Louisiana and the surrounding states know a thing or two about living through severe weather. Consider that Louisiana sustains roughly 27 tornadoes a year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and has seen roughly ten named storms since 1950. It follows that Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon recently released a press release with guidance for victims of severe weather. "Check your homeowners' and business insurance policies for coverage limits and deductibles," Donelon said. "Know that storms are considered 'Acts of God' or 'Acts of Nature' and an insurance company cannot cancel, refuse to renew or increase the amount of a premium on a homeowners policy based solely on this type of incident." He added that renters should look to their landlord's insurance policy to cover actual building damage but not damage to any personal belongings. The latter would be covered by a renter's insurance policy. Donelon concluded that residents of Louisiana — or any state that has recently been the location of a severe storm — can contact their state's insurance department with questions or concerns about how to manage weather-related property damage. The five tips outlined in the slideshow above are from the Louisiana Department of Insurance to help storm victims initiate the recovery process. See also: |

• Top 10 states for home claims due to hail
• Top 10 states at risk of hurricane storm surge damage in 2018