Does Home Insurance Cover Hurricanes and Flood Damage?

When it comes to protecting and insuring your home, you must consider some of the most common and destructive types of natural disasters. Hurricanes and floods are not only occurring more frequently in recent years, but they're also becoming costlier in terms of human lives and property damage. That's why it's critical to ensure your home is protected by the right homeowners insurance and additional coverage for flooding disasters.

Fortunately, a local independent insurance agent can help your home get equipped with all the coverage it needs. They'll ensure you find all the policies necessary to recoup losses from various types of natural disasters, including hurricanes and floods. But first, let's take a closer look at how the special risks of hurricanes and floods impact your home insurance coverage.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Hurricanes and Flooding?

Home insurance policies can offer protection for your home and personal property from certain components of hurricanes, including wind and hail damage. However, standard home insurance is not designed to cover flooding, even when it stems from hurricanes. To protect your home and personal property against flood damage and destruction from natural sources like hurricanes, tsunamis, heavy rainfall, etc., you'll need a separate coverage known as flood insurance.

It's also helpful to understand that in certain areas at a higher risk of hurricanes, you might be required to pay a separate wind deductible if you have to file a claim for windstorm damage to your home or its contents. Your independent insurance agent can help review your home insurance policy with you to determine if this deductible applies to your coverage.

Why Homeowners Must Prepare for Hurricane Season

The beginning of June through the end of November is known as hurricane season in the U.S. Many residents remember the devastating Hurricane Katrina, which struck in late August 2005 and caused approximately $161 billion in damages. Not only was Hurricane Katrina the costliest hurricane on record, but it also claimed the lives of about 1,833 people.

More recently, Hurricane Helene, which struck many states, especially North Carolina, in late September of 2024, was also extremely destructive. The storm and the resulting flooding that followed cost the U.S. an estimated $78.7 billion in total damages and claimed 249 lives. Since costly, destructive, and deadly hurricanes continue to occur so frequently, it's crucial to ensure your home and property are protected against all elements of these natural disasters well in advance of hurricane season.

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What Is a Hurricane Deductible?

In recent years, home insurance companies have begun requiring homeowners to pay a “hurricane deductible” in areas where this is permitted by state insurance law. Designed to help insurers manage the significant financial risk they carry when paying thousands of claims in one geographic area, hurricane deductibles apply to damage and losses from hurricanes only. If you live in a high-risk area for hurricanes, such as along the Atlantic coast, your home insurance policy may include a "named storm" deductible, which is also often called a hurricane deductible.

Hurricane deductibles apply once a storm has reached a certain strength, and they range from 1% to 5% of a home’s insured value. Named storm deductibles for policyholders living in coastal areas may be higher, though. 

Your hurricane deductible may not be necessary for a weaker storm. One example of when a hurricane deductible might apply is if a tropical depression system strengthens and turns into a named hurricane. If the storm then damages your property and you file a claim, you may have to pay this additional deductible.

The deductible is “triggered” based on the circumstances stated in the homeowners insurance policy. For example, a 2% hurricane deductible for a home valued at $200,000 means that the homeowner would pay the first $4,000 (2% x $200,000) of damage from a hurricane before receiving any reimbursement from their insurance company.

Like most insurance coverage, premiums are typically higher with a lower deductible. In some states, policyholders may have the option of a traditional dollar deductible (such as $500 or $1,000), although that’s not typically offered in higher-risk coastal areas. Your independent insurance agent can further explain your policy's hurricane deductible, if applicable, and when it applies.

Why You Need Flood Insurance

Flood damage from natural sources, such as hurricanes, heavy rainfall, tsunamis, and more, is specifically excluded by homeowners and renters insurance policies. Fortunately, you can buy a separate flood insurance policy, which is designed to cover flooding stemming from hurricanes and other natural disasters. Flash flooding and heavy rainfall, which commonly accompany hurricanes, can be extremely destructive to homes and property. 

To avoid having to pay out of your own pocket to repair or replace your property after water damage from a hurricane, it's critical to be equipped with flood insurance before a storm is ever in the forecast. If you wait to buy coverage until there's a known hurricane on the radar, your policy likely won't apply if the storm damages your home. A local independent insurance agent can help you add flood insurance before you ever need it.

How to Protect Your Car from Hurricane Damage

Flood insurance isn't designed to protect vehicles. Instead, you'll need to add comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy. This coverage is usually optional, so it's imperative to ensure your policy includes it before hurricane season rolls around. 

Comprehensive insurance can reimburse you for damage or destruction to your vehicle from all components of hurricanes, including wind, hail, and floodwaters. If you need to add this coverage to your car insurance, an independent insurance agent can help.

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An Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You Get Covered Against Hurricanes

Now that you know how to protect your home and property against all types of hurricane damage, why not let a trusted expert help you find all the coverage you need? Local independent insurance agents know exactly which carriers offer the best coverage in your area. They can help you get equipped with the right homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and comprehensive car insurance today. And down the road, your agent will still be there to help you update your coverage and file claims when necessary.