Tallahassee Hurricane Insurance

As a resident of Tallahassee, FL, you're probably well aware of the damage that Hurricane Michael left in its wake in 2018. Given its proximity to the Gulf Coast, this city is most certainly at risk for more devastating hurricanes in the future. Fortunately, you can protect your finances by covering your property with hurricane insurance. Independent insurance agents in Tallahassee can help you review your current policies to ensure that you have enough hurricane insurance and that you are getting it at a competitive price. Contact an insurance agent near you to learn more.

What Is Hurricane Insurance?

Hurricane insurance is not a stand-alone policy. Instead, it's something that may already be included in, or can be added to, the insurance policies you already have. Hurricanes pose a significant risk in Tallahassee, so you will want to make sure that all of your property is adequately covered against these destructive storms. This often means taking a closer look at the insurance you currently carry on your home, vehicle, and business, if applicable.

Can Hurricane Insurance Cover My Home in Tallahassee?

Usually, when people hear that a hurricane is headed toward them, the first thing they think about is protecting their home. Because the state of Florida is highly susceptible to hurricane damage, home insurance rates in this state are some of the highest in the country. But this doesn't necessarily mean that your home insurance policy provides the protection you need against these storms.

Some insurance companies will require you to buy a special endorsement to cover against hurricanes and windstorms, while others will include this coverage as part of their standard policy. This is why buying the least expensive coverage isn’t always the best choice. An independent insurance agent can help you review your home policy to ensure that it includes wind and hurricane coverage.

The other risk that often accompanies hurricanes is flooding. Although water damage caused by rain coming into your house through a damaged roof or a broken window is nearly always covered, damage caused by rising waters is not. To be covered, you need to buy a separate flood insurance policy. Your insurance agent can help you get affordable coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). 

Also, whether you carry a homeowners , condo , or renters insurance policy, if a covered event like a hurricane renders your home uninhabitable until repairs are made, your insurance can cover the cost of temporary housing and miscellaneous expenses like meals. Talk to your insurance agent to learn more about how your home policy can cover you against hurricanes.

Cover Your Vehicle against Hurricane Damage

Hurricanes can also cause significant damage to vehicles. Whether crushed by falling trees, dented by flying debris or carried away in rising floodwaters, cars and trucks are frequently totaled by these powerful storms. The only way you can get compensation for storm-related damage to your vehicles is by having comprehensive insurance included in your auto insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage is designed to cover most non-collision damage to your vehicle, including flood damage.

Purchasing gap insurance is also beneficial if you currently owe more on your car than it's worth. This often happens with new cars, since they depreciate in value very quickly. Gap insurance, as its name implies, is designed to bridge the gap between what you owe and what the car is worth. This can come in handy if a hurricane destroys your vehicle.

Protect Your Tallahassee Business with Hurricane Insurance

Many businesses can be found in the Tallahassee metropolitan area. Whether you have a small business with just a couple of employees or own a chain of stores throughout the city, a business insurance policy can help to protect your investment in your company, especially during hurricane season. Business insurance includes property coverage, which is designed to cover all of your business assets. Some of this property may need specialized coverage like inland marine insurance or contractors equipment insurance, but all of it can be covered against damage caused by severe weather like hurricanes.

Another way that business insurance can protect you is through coverage against forced closures. If power lines are down for a couple of weeks, or if the structure of the building that houses your business is severely damaged, your company may have to remain closed for a long time. Business interruption insurance can provide your firm with a continuation of income until it can reopen. It is important to note that like home insurance, business insurance policies nearly always exclude flood damage from their coverage. Fortunately, your independent insurance agent can help you supplement your business insurance coverage with a commercial flood insurance policy through the NFIP.

Why Work with an Independent Agent in Tallahassee?

There is no reason for you to struggle through understanding all the details of your insurance policies on your own. A local insurance professional can help you review your current coverage, and can provide you with trustworthy advice so that you don’t risk finding out the hard way that hurricane damage to your property is not sufficiently covered.

Find an independent insurance agent in or near Tallahassee to learn more about hurricane insurance.