1) Your homeowner's insurer is correct: if you did not live in the house when the damage occured, they do not cover this. Insurance only covers damage occuring when the policy was in place.2) IF the storm damage was not obvious and the seller hid it from you (i.e.  you could not see it when you or your inspector viewed the home, and the seller failed to disclose it), you could sue the seller based on fraud for any amounts or costs you incur. A lawsuit would be the only may to make them pay, if they don't voluntarily offer compensaton. You would sue the sellerm, not his/her insurer. But if you were aware of the damage but bought the house anyway, the seller is not liable and you are responsible for the costs. When you buy a house with knowledge of damage or costs associated with it, you but it subject to that damage or those costs.