Does Home Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

Hurricanes can cause widespread destruction to residences, forcing homeowners to face the formidable challenge of reconstructing their lives. Regardless of your home’s proximity to the coastline, potential property damage stemming from powerful winds and flooding is a real concern. Conducting a comprehensive review of your insurance coverage to ensure adequate protection in case a hurricane affects your area is crucial. 

What Insurance Do Homeowners Need for Hurricanes?

Home insurance can provide coverage for specific types of hurricane damage, particularly damage resulting from wind and rain. Standard home insurance policies may encompass limited protection for wind-related issues associated with hurricanes. Depending on the location, homeowners may find that hurricanes and other major storms are excluded from their coverage, necessitating the acquisition of separate windstorm insurance. 

Although home insurance may cover damage caused by wind and rain, it typically excludes coverage for flooding. Flooding, including storm surges and heavy rainfall linked to hurricanes, is commonly not included in standard home insurance policies. To safeguard against flood damage, homeowners residing in hurricane-prone areas often need to procure a distinct flood insurance policy. 

In summary, home insurance may provide limited coverage for certain hurricane-related damages, mainly those involving wind and rain, but it almost invariably excludes coverage for flooding. For comprehensive protection against the diverse perils associated with hurricanes, homeowners may require both a standard home insurance policy and a separate flood insurance policy, especially if they reside in a flood-prone area. Additionally, windstorm insurance might be necessary. Homeowners might also contemplate adding a sewer backup endorsement to their home insurance policy, offering protection against losses resulting from the discharge of water or waterborne materials from a sewer, drain, or sump. 

How Does Hurricane Insurance Differ From Standard Homeowners Insurance? 

Standard homeowners insurance offers broad coverage for various perils such as fire and theft but usually excludes protection against hurricane-related risks such as flooding and high winds. In contrast, hurricane insurance is a specialized policy that specifically covers damages caused by hurricanes and related perils, including storm surges and heavy rainfall. It often includes a separate “named storm deductible,” typically higher than the standard deductible, and provides “named peril” coverage, explicitly listing the covered risks. But it does not usually cover flood damage. To ensure comprehensive protection against hurricane-related risks, homeowners may need to combine standard homeowners insurance, flood insurance and hurricane insurance.

Contact Bargain Insurance Connection to discuss your home insurance needs. We can ensure you have coverage to protect your home and belongings from weather events. 

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.