Hurricane season is here — is your insurance ready to weather the storm?
Hurricane season always feels like that uninvited guest who shows up early, stays too long, and leaves a mess in your living room. While you’re stocking up on bottled water and batteries, there’s one thing you can’t pick up at the store last minute: the right insurance coverage. If disaster strikes, will your policy have your back — or leave you holding the mop?
Don’t assume you’re covered for everything
Here’s the first plot twist: your standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover everything you might think it does. Yes, it’ll usually protect against wind damage. But flooding? That’s a different ballgame. Most standard policies exclude flood damage — meaning if water creeps in, you could be paying out of pocket unless you have a separate flood insurance policy.
Wind and water damage are often treated as separate entities in the insurance world. That means if a hurricane tears your roof off (wind damage) and rain floods your living room (water damage), different parts of your policy — or even entirely separate policies — kick in. Confusing? Absolutely. But it’s better to know now than when you’re standing ankle-deep in water, wondering what’s covered.
Check your deductible —It might be higher than you think
Many homeowners don’t realise their hurricane deductible isn’t a flat dollar amount. In hurricane-prone states, insurers often set these deductibles as a percentage of your home’s insured value. So instead of paying a $1,000 deductible, you might owe 2% of your $300,000 home’s value—that’s $6,000 out of pocket before insurance even pays a dime.
If that math just gave you heart palpitations, you’re not alone. This is why it pays — literally — to review your policy before a storm forms off the coast.
Take inventory like you’re on a game show
If the worst happens and you need to file a claim, you’ll want proof of what you owned. Walk through your house with your phone, film everything, and keep that video somewhere safe (cloud storage works wonders). Receipts for big-ticket items are gold, but photos are the next best thing. Think of it as a scavenger hunt where future-you will be very grateful you played along.
Temporary living expenses: Don’t get stuck couch-surfing
Many homeowner’s policies include coverage for “loss of use”, which helps pay for hotel stays or temporary rentals if your home becomes unlivable. But the limits vary. If you don’t want to spend a month sharing your cousin’s pull-out sofa, check your coverage now. Make sure it’s high enough to cover realistic costs in your area — hotel bills add up fast when everyone in town is also looking for a room.
File claims fast, stay organised, and be polite (even when you’re frazzled).
If you do need to file a claim, speed is your friend. Contact your insurer as soon as it’s safe, keep receipts for emergency repairs, and document everything. Adjusters are human — and during hurricane season, they’re stretched thin — so staying organised and cooperative can help your claim move faster.
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