Hurricane Insurance

What Does Hurricane Insurance Mean?

Hurricane insurance is a policy that covers damage and loss to property caused by a hurricane. Coverage for damage from hurricane winds may be included in a homeowner’s policy, but water damage caused by the hurricane may not be covered.

Insuranceopedia Explains Hurricane Insurance

In the U.S., damage and loss caused by a hurricane may be included in a regular homeowner’s policy, specifically for wind damage or loss. However, damage caused by flooding from the hurricane is often excluded and requires a separate policy. Homeowners in coastal or hurricane-prone areas usually need a dedicated flood insurance policy to cover that water damage, typically through the National Flood Insurance Program.

Hurricane coverage typically comes with a deductible, which is a percentage of the property’s value. If the deductible is high, the premium tends to be lower. These percentage-based hurricane deductibles can range from 1% to 10% of insured value and apply differently depending on the state and carrier, so it helps to verify what your homeowners insurance covers in a hurricane before storm season.

Another consideration is whether personal belongings within the property are covered. In most cases, they are covered, but usually only up to a certain percentage of the property’s value. After a storm, filing a hurricane insurance claim usually requires photo documentation and notifying your insurer within a set window, which can be as short as 14 days depending on the policy.