Local

Lawsuit claims State Farm didn't pay full costs to repair home after tornado

HICKORY, N.C. — A home is still destroyed two years after a tornado ripped through a Hickory neighborhood overturning everything in its path.

Channel 9's Tony Sadiku learned the homeowner is now suing State Farm claiming the insurance giant failed to pay the full cost of the damages to the structure and roof when the storm hit in October 2017.

[PAST COVERAGE: Tornado destroys hanger, planes at Hickory airport]

State Farm denied paying out more money because it says the homeowner "failed to reasonably mitigate their damages" by securing tarps and taking other steps to protect the interior of the home from further water damage immediately following the storm.

Mary Clines said her neighbors did all they could do.

"We couldn’t help because a tornado came," she said. "That’s why we have insurance.”

Watch the video above to hear what homeowners can do to make sure they're fully covered during a major storm.