Prepared for the Unthinkable. Open the Next Day.
Coverage for violence that standard property policies won't carry
Terrorism and political violence insurance covers property damage, business interruption, and related loss from terrorism, riots, strikes, civil commotion, and sabotage. Standard commercial property policies limit or exclude these causes of loss, and the federal terrorism program (TRIA) only responds to events the government formally certifies — leaving a real gap for the riots, strikes, and non-certified attacks that are far more common. For businesses in high-traffic corridors, large venues, or civil-unrest-prone areas, this coverage is what keeps a single violent event from becoming a permanent closure.
Recent years of civil unrest have moved this coverage from exotic to practical for a wide range of ordinary businesses.
What Terrorism & Political Violence Covers
These programs typically provide coverage for:
Property Damage — Physical damage to buildings, contents, and improvements from a covered terrorist or political-violence event.
Business Interruption & Extra Expense — Lost income and added operating costs while you repair, rebuild, or relocate after an event.
Riots, Strikes & Civil Commotion (SRCC) — Damage and interruption from civil unrest — frequently the most relevant exposure for everyday businesses.
Sabotage & Non-Certified Terrorism — Attacks that never receive a federal TRIA certification but still cause real loss.
Political Violence Extensions — Insurrection, rebellion, and related perils in broader standalone forms, where included.
What It Does Not Cover
Terrorism and political violence policies commonly exclude:
Declared war between nations (a standard market exclusion)
Nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological events, unless specifically added
Cyber attacks (addressed under cyber insurance)
Loss of attraction or revenue not tied to covered physical damage, unless endorsed
Ordinary property perils already covered by the base policy
Coverage breadth differs sharply between a TRIA endorsement and a standalone policy.
Who Needs Terrorism & Political Violence?
This coverage is important for businesses that:
Occupy high-profile buildings, landmarks, or trophy properties
Operate large venues, stadiums, hotels, or entertainment facilities
Own habitational, retail, or mixed-use property in dense urban corridors
Sit near government buildings, transit hubs, or likely protest sites
Have lender or lease requirements for terrorism coverage
If a crowd, a landmark, or a dense corridor is part of your exposure, this risk is real.
How Coverage Is Structured
Terrorism and political violence coverage is typically written as:
A TRIA endorsement embedded in the property policy — covering only federally certified acts
A standalone terrorism policy — broader, covering non-certified events and often SRCC and political violence
Limits and business-interruption periods matched to the property's values
Optional extensions for active assailant, threat, and denial of access
Placement often through the specialty and surplus-lines market
The choice between TRIA and standalone determines how much of the real exposure is actually covered.
Real-World Claim Examples
Civil unrest damages a retail storefront and halts operations for weeks
A riot causes fire and vandalism to a mixed-use building
A sabotage event damages equipment at a visible facility
An attack near a venue triggers a denial-of-access business-interruption loss
In each case, the base property policy's limitations can leave the business exposed without this coverage.
Why Proper Placement Matters
Terrorism and political violence coverage varies widely based on:
Whether the policy is a TRIA endorsement or a broader standalone form
How riots, strikes, and civil commotion are treated
Business-interruption and denial-of-access terms
Coordination with the property program and any active-assailant cover
A TRIA-only approach can leave the most likely events — riots and non-certified attacks — uninsured.
Our Approach
At Cory Washington & Co., we help businesses see past the TRIA checkbox to the exposure that actually threatens them — civil unrest, sabotage, and non-certified attacks — and we structure terrorism and political violence coverage to match. Where people-focused violence is the concern, we coordinate it with active shooter and workplace violence coverage and the property program behind both.
The goal is simple: whatever happens outside, you open the next day.
All insurance descriptions on this website are provided by Cory Washington & Co. LLC strictly for general informational purposes. They are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, legal, financial, or insurance advice. The information presented is general in nature and does not guarantee the availability, terms, conditions, or scope of any insurance coverage. Actual coverage is determined solely by the specific policy language issued by the insurer and remains subject to underwriting approval. Nothing on this website creates or implies an agent-client relationship, binds coverage, or alters any existing policy. Cory Washington & Co. LLC expressly disclaims any liability for actions taken, or not taken, based on the content provided here. For advice regarding your particular situation, please consult directly with a licensed insurance professional at Cory Washington & Co. LLC or another qualified insurance professional, and always review your policy documents in full.
See what to confirm in a terrorism & political violence policy — what's standard, what's often limited, and what to add if needed — plus the gap most often missed, in the Terrorism & Political Violence Policy Feature Checklist.
Complete the Terrorism & Political Violence Supplemental online in a few guided steps, download the fillable PDF, or browse all applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get terrorism & political violence insurance through Cory Washington & Co.?
Request a quote or contact our team. We start with a short conversation about your operations, analyze your exposures, then negotiate terrorism & political violence insurance across multiple carriers that compete for your account and present options with the trade-offs explained. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
What does terrorism & political violence insurance cost?
It depends on your exposure. Terrorism & political violence insurance is priced on factors like your industry, size, prior claims, and the limits and deductibles you select — so two businesses rarely pay the same. We shop your account across competing carriers and present the trade-offs in plain English.
Is terrorism & political violence insurance required?
Whether terrorism & political violence insurance is strictly required depends on your state, your contracts, and your lenders or clients. Even where it is not mandatory, going without it can leave serious financial gaps. We assess your exposure and any contractual requirements, then structure coverage that meets both.
What if another agency has already declined or non-renewed my coverage?
Difficult, specialty, and previously-declined placements are a core part of our work. We access excess & surplus (E&S) and specialty markets that many generalist agencies cannot, and we explain the trade-offs clearly so you can decide with confidence.
Available in all 50 states. See how requirements differ in California, Texas, Florida, New York, or choose your state.