With hurricane season upon us, having the appropriate insurance to protect your home is essential, particularly for those living in hurricane-prone areas.
Hurricane Information and Your Policy
- There is nothing specifically called “hurricane insurance.” Wind damage and flooding are the two major dangers from a hurricane1; most standard homeowners policies will cover damage caused by hurricanes except for flood damage.
- When purchasing homeowners insurance, you should carefully discuss with your independent agent what is and what isn’t covered, and review this information yearly. Understand what’s covered, and fill in any gaps you find2.
- It’s smart to become familiar with other out-of-pocket expenses that a policy may require if a hurricane damages your home, allowing you to put away savings as needed3.
- After a storm, labor and materials costs can increase exponentially as many people look for contractors and supplies at the same time4.
What about Flooding?
- Many home insurance policiescover damage from windstorms, but remember, the majority of home insurance doesn’t cover flood damage5. Homeowners bracing for a hurricane’s devastation may not even realize they need a separate flood policy for losses from surging ocean waves or an overflowing river6.
- The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a federal flood insurance program to help those in flood-prone regions in the U.S. Flood insurance covers your home and the possessions inside it7.
It’s important to familiarize yourself before a storm threatens so you know you have the best coverage to protect your valuable assets.
Sources:
1, 2, 3, 5, Bankrate, https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/hurricane-insurance/
4, 6, Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-homeowners-insurance-wont-cover-if-a-hurricane-hits-1504897428
7, FloodSmart, www.floodsmart.gov
