Bracing for Impact: How to Ensure Your Home Is Hurricane-Ready

A hurricane’s strong winds and heavy rain can wreak havoc on a home. If these massive storms are common in your area, protecting your house from damage is a top priority. While a hurricane preparedness plan is always a good idea, insurance is one of the best ways to protect your investment in your home.

Most home insurance plans contain a limited level of protection against the effects of a hurricane. However, most policies don’t cover all aspects of hurricane damage. Many insurance companies institute a separate deductible for hurricane-related concerns — especially for homeowners in coastal cities.

Knowing your coverage limits is the first step in protecting your home from the squall. Here’s how to keep your home insured and prepared for hurricane season.

Understanding Hurricane Insurance 

Technically, “hurricane insurance” isn’t a standalone policy. So homeowners must seek out supplemental coverage in a few different ways to obtain adequate hurricane protection. When faced with a major storm, your home could be at risk of several forms of damage, including:

• Roof damage
• Damage to the home’s external structure
• Water damage or flooding
• Cracks in the home’s foundation
• Utility damage, including pipes and electrical systems

Some of your protection will come from your standard homeowner’s insurance policy, which likely includes dwelling coverage. This protects the structure of your home from damage caused by weather, including wind and falling objects. Personal property coverage is also usually included to insure your personal belongings against damage.

Adding separate riders to your plan can make up for some of the blind spots in your coverage. Flood insurance and windstorm insurance can keep your home insured against the water and wind that make hurricanes such a threat.

Windstorm Coverage and Home Insurance

Windstorm insurance encompasses damage caused by gales, gusty winds, and even hail. This includes the high winds that come with hurricanes, though it doesn’t extend to any damage caused by rain or flooding. Some policies may issue two separate deductibles for homeowners in hurricane-prone areas: hurricane-only, which applies to named storms, and wind-and-hail, which applies to all other cases of wind damage.

Because hurricane winds can cause significant damage to your home’s structure, windstorm coverage can be a useful addition to your preparedness plan. But to insure your home against water damage, you’re better off supplementing your policy with flood insurance.

Loss-of-use coverage may also be employed in the event that hurricane damage leaves your home uninhabitable. If your property includes detached structures such as sheds, barns, or in-ground swimming pools, other structures coverage can often insure those additions against storm-related damage.

Hurricane Deductibles and Coverage Limits 

Homeowners in areas with a high hurricane risk are often subject to a different deductible for hurricane damage. In most cases, this deductible applies only when a storm is categorized as a hurricane by the National Weather Service, though some insurance companies may have different triggers.

The typical homeowner’s insurance deductible is a specified amount of money you must pay toward a loss before the insurance company will step in to assist you. If your policy’s hurricane trigger event occurs, any storm-related loss you incur will require you to cover the separate, often higher, deductible.

The amount of a hurricane insurance deductible will depend on your home’s insured value and is usually calculated as a percentage. Between 1% and 5% of the home’s insured value is standard, though homeowners in coastal areas could see even higher deductibles.

For example, if your homeowner’s insurance policy has a $700 deductible, you’ll be responsible for paying the first $700 of any claim unrelated to hurricanes. But when a storm hits, a 5% hurricane deductible with an insured home value of $350,000 means you’ll pay the first $17,500 of covered damage.

Some hurricane-prone states have implemented programs to relieve the strain of high deductibles, such as the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Eligible homeowners may be offered reinsurance in light of excessive damage.

Unpacking the Insurance Claims Process 

Getting familiar with the insurance claims process can make it easier to bounce back after a hurricane. In the aftermath of the storm, submitting your claim as quickly as possible is key to ensuring any damage is repaired and covered — especially if other homes in the area have been hit hard.

When filing your claim, you’ll notify the insurance provider of the loss, which is then investigated and evaluated by claim adjusters. Once the assessment is complete, the provider will offer you a settlement based on what’s covered by your policy. You can choose to accept this offer or dispute the claim to negotiate for a higher amount.

How to Purchase Hurricane Insurance 

Before purchasing hurricane coverage, it’s a good idea to assess your home’s risk of damage. If major storms are commonplace in your area or your house is prone to flooding, having some extra protection could save you money in the long run.

Checking your current homeowner’s insurance policy will also reveal any gaps you should fill with supplemental coverage. Your plan may cover roof damage caused by high winds but exclude coverage for floods; in this case, flood insurance could be a valuable addition to your policy.

Some insurance providers deliberately exclude hurricane-related damage from their policies, meaning your losses won’t be covered in the event of a major storm. When shopping for plans, pay attention to the fine print to ensure you get the protection you need.

Hurricane Preparedness Tips 

Taking steps to protect your home from future storms can not only reduce damage but may even lower the cost of your coverage. Before the next hurricane hits, consider implementing these preparedness tips:

• Install storm shutters and storm doors
• Bring outdoor furnishings inside
• Ensure outdoor structures are well-anchored
• Put together an emergency kit
• Keep up with regular roof inspections and repair leaks as they arise
• Be prepared to turn off the power in the event of flooding or downed power lines
• Establish an evacuation plan

Filing a Hurricane Insurance Claim 

If protective measures aren’t enough to shield your house from the storm, you may need to submit a claim to your home insurance provider. In this case, documentation is your top priority. Take numerous photos and videos of the loss that can be submitted as evidence, and avoid throwing anything away that might affect the claim. Once you’ve taken stock of the damage, you can file your claim with the provider.

In most cases, the provider will send a claims adjuster to your home to assess the damage in person. After this meeting, you can turn your attention to repairs. You may be able to fix some of the damage yourself; if you choose to do so, be sure to document any expenses you incur. 

If a contractor’s help is necessary, beware of fraudsters looking to take advantage of the storm. Make sure you check the credentials of each contractor you hire, and avoid anyone who solicits assistance door-to-door.

To help you navigate the post-hurricane process, here’s a simple storm damage checklist:

1. Document the damage extensively with photos and videos.
2. Submit your insurance claim.
3. Meet with adjusters to show them the damage.
4. Once you’re given the all-clear, start fixing what you can and documenting your expenses.
5. Consult contractors for repairs you can’t make yourself.
6. When a settlement is offered, decide whether to accept the terms or dispute the decision on the claim.

Batten Down the Hatches With a Hurricane Preparedness Plan 

When a hurricane hits, a quality insurance plan can help you keep your home — and your wallet — protected from loss. Evaluating your current homeowner’s policy can help you identify gaps that need to be filled with supplemental coverage, such as floor or windstorm insurance.

Besides shoring up your homeowner’s insurance, taking protective measures to secure your home before a storm hits can minimize the damage it incurs. If hurricanes are commonplace in your area, developing an emergency preparedness plan with your family can help you weather the storm. 

Through rain, snow, or shine, Claim Guide has the tools you need to navigate insurance with confidence. Visit us today for more policy guidance.

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Reviewed by Gerard Reczek

As an Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Specialist, Gerard Reczek has over forty years of experience as a broker and underwriter for clients with hard to place risks, providing deep policy analysis and thoughtful client solutions. He holds MA Resident Individual Producer and Surplus Lines Broker Licenses.