Understanding your home insurance coverage is crucial, especially if you live in an area prone to hurricanes. Hurricanes can cause a lot of damage, but not all types of damage are covered under standard home insurance policies. We’ll walk you through what is typically covered and what is not when it comes to hurricane damage.

What Home Insurance Covers

Homeowners' insurance usually covers damage caused by wind, which is one of the main hazards during a hurricane. If strong winds from a hurricane cause damage to the structure of your home, like ripping off shingles or breaking windows, your home insurance should cover the cost of repairs. It also typically covers damage to personal property inside your home that is affected by the wind or flying debris. For example, furniture, electronics, and other belongings that are damaged during a hurricane could be replaced under your policy.

What Home Insurance Does Not Cover

One of the biggest things to keep in mind is that standard homeowners' insurance does not cover flood damage caused by hurricanes. Flooding from storm surges or rising water is not included in your basic home insurance policy. This is a major concern during hurricanes, as heavy rain and storm surges can lead to severe flooding, which can damage your home and belongings.

Example:

If your home floods due to a storm surge during a hurricane, your homeowners' insurance will not cover the damage. For instance, if your basement gets flooded, and valuable personal items are ruined by the rising water, your insurance policy will not cover the costs. To protect against this, you will need flood insurance.

If you live in a flood-prone area, this could be a significant gap in your coverage. To avoid surprises, it is a good idea to add flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or another private insurer.

Steps to Take:

1. Review your current policy: Check your policy for flood exclusions.
   
   
2. Consider adding flood insurance: Contact your insurance provider or the NFIP to add a separate flood insurance policy.
   
   
3. Evaluate your risk: If you are unsure whether you live in a flood-prone area, use FEMA’s flood map service to check your risk level.

Understanding Deductibles for Hurricane Damage

Another important detail to understand about hurricane damage is the deductible. In many areas prone to hurricanes, home insurance policies have a separate hurricane deductible. This is often higher than your regular deductible and is based on the value of your home or the risk level in your area. For example, a hurricane deductible might be 2% of the value of your home, which means if your home is worth $200,000, you would have to pay $4,000 out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in.

Steps to Take:

1. Check your hurricane deductible: Review your insurance policy to determine what your hurricane deductible is.
   
   
2. Understand how it works: Be sure you know whether the deductible is based on your home’s value or another factor.
   
   
3. Prepare financially: Set aside an emergency fund to cover this deductible if a hurricane hits your area.

What to Do If You Live in a Hurricane Zone

If you live in an area that is frequently affected by hurricanes, it is important to review your home insurance policy regularly. Make sure that your coverage includes protection against wind damage, and check if you need additional coverage for flooding. Many homeowners in hurricane zones find that adding flood insurance is necessary to protect their property fully.

Steps to Take:

1. Evaluate your home insurance coverage: Contact your insurance agent to ensure your current policy covers wind damage. If you have any doubts, ask for clarification on specific exclusions.
   
   
2. Consider additional coverage: For those living in hurricane-prone areas, adding flood insurance is often a good idea. Flood insurance is not automatically included in a standard home insurance policy, so it is something you need to purchase separately.
   
   
3. Protect your home with hurricane preparedness: Consider making physical improvements to your home to reduce the risk of damage, like installing impact-resistant windows or reinforcing the roof.

Speaking with an insurance agent is a good idea to better understand your options. They can help you customize your policy to fit the risks you face based on your location.