Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

Strong winds, including hurricanes, are often covered by homeowners insurance policies. However, there can be a separate deductible in your coverage for hurricane damage. A hurricane insurance deductible may be a portion of one or more of your coverage limits and is occasionally larger than the usual deductible under your policy. However, not all ordinary home insurance policies will, so check with your insurer to see if you're insured and if a different deductible applies.

How does Home Insurance cover Storm Damage?

The following methods that your homeowner's insurance coverage can guard against storm damage:

• If a storm damages the structure of your house, dwelling coverage can help cover the cost of repairs, subject to the policy's limits.

• Up to the limits of your policy, personal property coverage may pay to repair or replace damaged things if the hurricane also causes damage to your personal belongings.

• If a storm damages your house and you cannot live there, your policy's loss of use coverage may cover additional living expenses such as lodging, food, and transportation.

A deductible is included in both the personal property and home coverages. Remember that the deductible for a windstorm claim could be much higher than for other risks covered by your policy.

Explaining a Hurricane Deductible

Particularly if you reside in a high-risk area, such as along the Atlantic Coast, you might be required to have a separate house insurance deductible for hurricane damages. A "named storm" deductible, often known as a "hurricane deductible," may be present in your insurance and take effect whenever a storm reaches a specific intensity. For instance, your hurricane deductible will be used if a storm damages your property and intensifies past a tropical depression to become a named hurricane. Depending on your policy, hurricane deductibles may require you to pay a certain percentage, often between 1 and 5 percent, rather than a set sum.

State-by-state variations affect the circumstances under which a hurricane deductible will apply if your insurance has one. For some states, the National Weather Service must classify the storm as a hurricane. Additionally, a hurricane must reach a certain category in some areas, such as 3 or 4.

Does Hurricane-related Flooding Fall Under Home Insurance?

Flood damage is often not typically covered by homeowner's insurance. You need a separate flood insurance policy to safeguard your property from flooding from the outside brought on by a hurricane. A flood endorsement may be available from some insurers and be added to your current home's insurance.