Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

A lot of people have a poor understanding of their home insurance policies. This lack of knowledge can really come back to hurt you later, when you think you are covered for something that you actually aren’t. In Florida, preparing for hurricanes is a must. You never know when one will get kicked up in the Atlantic, and it’s impossible to project with certainty how strong they will be and where they will head. Making sure your insurance policy covers hurricane damage is crucial to ensure that you and your family will be covered after the storm passes.

What to Look for

Hurricanes aren’t listed specifically as a named peril in homeowner’s policies, so how do you know if you are covered? Hurricanes present a variety of dangers to your home, so make sure the following perils are protected against in your base policy:

• Wind damage
• Falling objects
• Water damage

Wind, water, and falling objects are the top 3 dangers associated with hurricanes. Fortunately, many basic home insurance policies cover these perils. Chances are, if you live in Florida, that you are covered in these areas. It is also highly likely that you will have a separate hurricane damage deductible written into your policy, and it will probably be different than your normal deductible.

Watch Out for Floods

However, the water damage peril does not include coverage for damage caused by floods. For this, you’ll need a supplemental insurance policy on top of your base homeowner’s insurance. Do some research to find out if your area is prone to flooding and if your home has the right infrastructure in place to handle potential floods. If you are on low ground, have a poor drainage system, or are near a body of water, you may want to seriously consider purchasing flood insurance. The average flood damage claim is $30,000, so a failure to be covered when the waters are rolling in can be ruinous.

Don’t end up paying a fortune out of pocket for something which you could easily be covered for, simply because you don’t understand your insurance policy. Let the insurance experts at Corkhill Insurance Agency help you learn more about homeowner’s policies so that you know exactly what your are protected from. Not satisfied with your current provider, or looking to buy your first home insurance? Call us today for a free quote at 407-898-8891.