(NBC) -- As temperatures rise this summer, so too will the threats from storms, fires, and floods.
No matter what natural events could threaten your property, Kiplinger's Janet Bodnar says there are steps you can take to make sure your property is protected, or at least covered.
Rule number one: Review your insurance policy.
"Perhaps the single biggest surprise people get when they look at their insurance, often after the fact, is that it's not covered," Bodnar warns.
Because in the world of insurance it's not just what happens to your property, but also how, and when it comes to Mother Nature, water is the largest cause of property damage no matter what forces brought it.
"If it's wind driven it can be covered, but if the water comes from the ground up, as in a flood, the water damage is not covered in a basic homeowner policy," Bodnar explains.
Added flood insurance can be costly, so Bodnar recommends checking with the national flood insurance program if rates in your area are high.
Now is the time to get dead tree limbs cleaned up, and if stormy weather is approaching look around your home for things that may be a little too wind friendly.
"Make sure there's nothing outside that looks innocuous can turn into a projectile," Bodnar suggests.
The benefits to these measures may come in the form of discounts on your policies or not having to file claims in the future.
Either way, you'll benefit from some piece of mind.
NBC