More tornadoes and severe weather may translate to pricier home insurance for central Ohioans —but there are things homeowners can do to curb rising costs.
Across the United States, annual insurance premiums for typical homeowners increased by an average of $648, or 24%, from 2021 through 2024, according to a report released in April by the Consumer Federation of America, a national nonprofit established in 1968 to advance consumer interests through research, advocacy and education. In Ohio, premiums increased 23% in that same time period while in Columbus they rose by 16%, the report shows.
In large part, the rise was driven by more frequent storms doing more damage throughout the country and not just in areas often hit by hurricanes or wildfires, said Sharon Cornelissen, director of housing at the Consumer Federation of America. And while it may appear that worse weather has spared some states, Cornelissen said that won’t always be the case.
“Florida is just the canary in the coal mine. Price pressures continue to rise and we’re seeing more and more disasters happening all over the country,” Cornelissen said. “No state is a climate haven. There is no such thing.”
