Hurricane Insurance

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November each year, and peaks from mid-August to late October. 

On average, around five hurricanes strike the United States coastline every three years. Of these, two are typically major hurricanes with winds greater than 110 miles per hour. 

Financial losses from hurricanes from 1980 to 2023 reached $1.412 trillion. The hurricanes causing the most financial losses per decade were as follows:

• 2000 to 2009: Hurricane Katrina, $200 billion
• 2010 to 2019: Hurricane Harvey, $158.8 billion
• 2020 to 2023: Hurricane Ian, $118.5 billion

In October, 2024, hurricanes Helene and Milton hit within weeks of each other, creating a wide swath of damage across Florida and the entire Southeastern U.S., including unprecedented mountain flooding in Western North Carolina resulting from Helene’s lingering rainfall. Damage is expected to be in the billions of dollars, and unfortunately, hundreds of deaths have resulted.

People in affected areas need some type of hurricane insurance to help cover even a portion of the damage after these storms. However, hurricane coverage can be complicated, and coverage typically depends on the cause of specific types of damage. Here we will discuss hurricane insurance and how it can help. 

If you live in a hurricane-prone area, it’s best to discuss every potential scenario with an independent insurance agent, so you can be sure you have the best coverage for your needs. 

Best Hurricane Insurance Companies

Hurricane coverage is typically part of your homeowners insurance policy, so it's important to discuss hurricane coverage with your insurance company. 

How do you find the right insurer for your needs when not every insurance company operates in your state? Here are a few recommended homeowners insurance companies that you may find in your area:

• Progressive: Progressive is based in Ohio, but offers home insurance across all 50 states. Progressive can also help with most of your personal insurance needs. 
• Stillwater Insurance Group: Stillwater is a national personal and commercial lines carrier with rock-solid financial stability. The company can help you with your home insurance needs. 
• Travelers: Travelers offers highly rated home insurance. It can meet your additional personal insurance needs with a full line of products, including auto, boat, identity theft, umbrella, and other coverages.
• Foremost Insurance Company: Foremost was founded in 1952 and offers a wide range of coverage, including home insurance, in 50 states.
• Safeco: Safeco has been protecting individuals and families since 1923. The company offers home insurance, as well as a comprehensive range of other personal insurance policies. Working through independent agents, Safeco makes it easy to get the best mix of coverage and pricing.

An independent insurance agent in your area can help you learn more about these and other home insurance companies. A local agent can help you get competitive quotes for the coverage that fits your needs.

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What Is Hurricane Insurance? 

Hurricanes can cause many types of damage to your home. The most common types from a hurricane or tropical storm are caused by:

In general, you need hurricane insurance for property damage caused by wind and water. With a combination of homeowners insurance and flood insurance, you will have protection for some of the damage caused by a hurricane. 

Wind damage is usually a covered peril in a home insurance policy. Windstorm damage may be excluded from coverage in some high-risk states, however. In those cases, windstorm coverage can be added with a policy endorsement. Flood damage is always excluded from home insurance and must be purchased separately. 

If you live in a hurricane-prone area, it’s important to understand how to cover both wind and water damage and any special terms or conditions that apply to your policies.

What Does Hurricane Insurance Cover? 

Hurricane victims typically need insurance coverage for wind damage, water damage, or both. Here’s how it works.

How does hurricane insurance cover wind damage? 

Homeowners insurance usually covers windstorm damage caused by a hurricane. 

Some homeowners insurance policies in coastal areas may include a hurricane deductible or a wind deductible. A hurricane deductible is separate from your primary home insurance deductible, and is a percentage of your home’s insured value, rather than a pre-determined flat dollar figure. 

Hurricane deductibles apply only when your home has been damaged by a hurricane. They are typically 1% to 5% of the home’s insured value, so if your home is insured for $250,000 and you have a 2% hurricane deductible, you would have to pay the first $5,000 to repair damage to your home before your insurance coverage kicks in. 

The following nineteen states, plus the District of Columbia, currently have some form of hurricane deductible included in their homeowners policies: 

Other states may allow insurance companies to include hurricane deductibles in the home insurance policies they offer. 

How does hurricane insurance cover flood damage? 

Flooding is never covered by homeowners insurance. This includes flooding caused by hurricanes. You can get flood insurance offered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federal program created by Congress in 1968 to help homeowners protect themselves from the financial devastation of floods. Homeowners, renters, condo owners, and business owners can buy NFIP flood insurance. 

Keep in mind that there are a few private insurance companies in some states that sell flood insurance. A local independent insurance agent can help you decide whether NFIP or private flood insurance is best for your needs. 

How Does Federal Disaster Assistance Help after a Hurricane? 

If you do not have homeowners insurance or your coverage is insufficient, you might think you can rely on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other groups like the American Red Cross for disaster assistance after a hurricane. While some assistance may be available if you have no insurance or if your insurance doesn’t cover everything, relying on it to completely rebuild your home and your life is probably not a wise choice.

FEMA does provide assistance to individuals and families who have lost their homes as a result of a presidentially declared disaster. By law, FEMA assistance cannot duplicate the assistance you receive from your insurance company, but you may receive assistance for items not covered by insurance.  

While some housing assistance funds (grants that don’t have to be paid back) are available, most disaster assistance from the Federal government is in the form of low-interest disaster loans administered by the Small Business Administration. 

FEMA may authorize assistance (after you complete the application process) if:

• Your insurance settlement is delayed longer than 30 days from the time you filed the claim
• Your insurance settlement is insufficient to meet your disaster-caused needs
• You have exhausted the Additional Living Expenses provided by your insurance company

Therefore, it’s best to look at FEMA assistance as something that might help you supplement your insurance coverage in certain areas in which you are uninsured or underinsured.

Save on Hurricane Insurance

Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

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How Much Does Hurricane Insurance Cost?

To get the best coverage for hurricane damage, you'll need a combination of homeowners insurance and flood insurance. The cost of insuring your unique home will depend on several factors, including its size, age, and location. 

We can say that homeowners insurance and flood insurance in hurricane-prone high-risk zones tend to be among the most expensive in the nation. 

An independent insurance agent can help you work through your home and flood insurance options and help you find the most affordable coverage that also meets your needs. 

Tips for What to Do after a Hurricane

You might be frightened, exhausted, and in shock if a hurricane hits your home. Where do you even start to get your home and your life back together? There are some immediate steps you can take to start the recovery process. 

• Do a damage inventory if your home sustains damage from a hurricane or tropical storm. When the storm passes, photograph or videotape any damage that your home has sustained, if possible. 
• Report any home or property damage to your insurance agent as soon as possible. Keep track of the special reference number for your claim that your insurance company will issue to you.
• Make any needed emergency repairs to your home as required by your policy. Be careful of structural damage, escaping gas, or fallen wires.
• Hire only licensed and reputable contractors for repair work.
• Don’t throw away damaged items or make any repairs until your insurance adjuster has reviewed them. You can, however, make any repairs that are necessary to protect your home and personal property from sustaining any additional damage (e.g., cover broken windows). If you need to make temporary repairs, be sure to record your expenses and save the receipts. 

Your insurance agent and insurance company will give you further instructions on how to proceed with your claim. Follow the instructions carefully and keep detailed records throughout the process. 

How Can an Independent Insurance Agent Help You Find Hurricane Insurance? 

Independent insurance agents can help you find appropriate coverage for flood and wind damage caused by hurricanes. A local agent can help you compare policies and costs from numerous insurance companies. 

Find an independent insurance agent near you to get more information and to start reviewing quotes for hurricane insurance in your state.