American legislators have decided to include windstorm cover in the National Flood Insurance Program, providing protection for policyholders dumped by their insurers.

The House Financial Services Committee voted last week to include windstorm cover in the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernisation Act 2007.

The new law will require the program to cover windstorm damage to non-residential properties for up to $1 million on the structure and $750,000 on home, contents and business interruption.

Jurisdictions must meet land-use and preparation standards mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to qualify for windstorm cover.