Hurricanes are a serious threat to homeowners and renters alike. This is why it’s essential to protect your home and belongings against the risk of wind damage, floods, water, and structural loss from a hurricane.
Hurricanes are unpredictable and can strike anytime, regardless of where you live. In addition, the cost of homeowners insurance can vary significantly by location and property characteristics.
Wind Damage
During a hurricane, wind can cause extensive damage to your home. This includes the roof covering damage and damaged doors and windows.
Most homes suffer wind damage when a hurricane strikes; the severity of this damage depends on the speed at which it hits your area. The strongest winds occur in coastal areas.
However, even inland areas can experience damaging winds. These high winds can break down roofs and sheathe, destroy power lines, and knock out electricity and water for weeks to months.
A storm-proofing plan is the best way to protect your home from wind and water damage. Fortunately, most insurers will offer discounts for installing impact windows and taking other hurricane mitigation measures.
Flood Damage
During hurricanes, flooding can cause significant damage to homes and other buildings. It can cause roofs to rip off houses and cave walls and send power lines, heavy fixtures, and more crashing down.
Homeowners in hurricane-prone areas often have flood insurance that serves as the hurricane insurance guide, but you should consider getting it if you don’t. Floods cause more than $40 billion in damages worldwide annually.
Storm surges and floodwaters can come from various sources, including groundwater, tidal or lake water, rivers, streams, and seas. They can also result from the collapse of soil or land or the ensuing mudslides.
In addition to causing floods, hurricanes can lead to sewer backups and sewage overflow. A separate sewer backup policy will help protect your home and personal property from damages if sewage backs up through your plumbing or sump pump during a flood.
Water Damage
When hurricanes occur, it is common for water to enter your home and cause damage. This can be due to a storm surge, tidal wave, or overflowing lakes and rivers.
Depending on where you live, your homeowner’s insurance policy only sometimes covers flood damage. You must contact your insurance agent to determine if you need additional flood coverage.
It would help if you also considered your hurricane deductible when shopping for a home insurance policy. Many states have higher deductibles for hurricanes, so they know what to expect.
If you have a hurricane deductible, this could mean you’ll be responsible for paying a percentage of your home’s value before your insurance company will reimburse you for repairs. This can be expensive, so shopping around is a good idea.
Structural Damage
Structural damage to a home can occur from a variety of sources. These include natural disasters, construction defects, and foundation problems.
A hurricane can cause significant structural damage to a home due to the high winds and rain. Additionally, wind-borne debris, such as tree limbs and branches, can penetrate windows and doors and cause extensive damage to the home’s interior.
In addition, storms can cause soil to settle beneath your home’s foundation, which can be very costly.
This occurs because the soil under your foundation is not uniform, and it can cause your home to move six inches or more.
The good news is that most of the damage to your home can be detected and fixed before it becomes a big problem. A professional inspection is the only way to know whether or not your home has any serious structural issues.
Personal Property Damage
A hurricane can cause a lot of damage to your home. This is why it’s essential to ensure you have the right coverage to protect your home from wind, flood, and water damage if a hurricane hits your area.
Another reason why you need hurricane insurance is because it can pay for any extra expenses you incur while you are displaced from your home, such as hotel and restaurant meals. This can make your life much easier and less stressful, so review your policy before a hurricane hits to ensure you are covered.
One of the most important things you can do before a hurricane strike is to document all of your personal property in a contents list. This will help expedite the claims process and ensure that your insurance company can verify the items you lost were indeed belonging to you. A visual record of your damaged property will also speed up the appraisal process for a fair and accurate payout.