Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies will cover some damage encountered in a hurricane, but they may not cover everything. For this reason, you may want to review your insurance policies before hurricane season arrives so that you can be prepared and know what to expect in case something happens.
It really depends on how an insurance company writes an individual policy and whether the renter’s or homeowner’s policy covers all aspects of hurricane damage. Some policies require extra coverage for certain types of damage that relate to the hurricane. An experienced Louisiana hurricane damage lawyer can review your insurance policy and evaluate your options.
Understanding How a Homeowners Insurance Policy Works with Hurricanes
First, it is important to understand that insurance companies do not carry any policy that solely deals with hurricanes. Nothing like hurricane insurance exists.
Instead, insurance companies write policies that give homeowners coverage regarding the damage that hurricanes may cause. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), some damage homeowners may see from a hurricane include:
- Wind damage to a roof
- Damage from falling trees
- Structural damage to the home from wind
- Flooded basements
- Water damage in walls
- Damage to electrical wiring in the home
Data from the Insurance Information Institute (III) reveals that in the aftermath of this historic storm, insurers collectively paid out approximately $16.4 billion to settle claims from a staggering 1 million homeowners across impacted areas. Below are the types of items you may need extra homeowners insurance coverage for in a hurricane, especially in a high-risk area.
Flooding
Standard homeowners insurance policies rarely cover flood damage, regardless of whether the flooding came from a hurricane or another type of tropical storm or natural disaster, such as storm surges. Water damage from rain falling through a hole in the roof may be part of the insurance coverage, though. This can be a highly confusing aspect of homeowners insurance.
You almost certainly will need to purchase flood coverage separately and add it to your homeowner’s policy. Keep in mind that separate flood insurance policies will also have coverage limits, just like standard homeowners policies.
Wind
Hurricanes bring sustained strong winds over long periods at high speeds. This can cause extensive damage to the home, especially the roof. Coverage for wind damage is nearly always part of a homeowners insurance policy. However, in a hurricane-prone area like Louisiana, some homeowner’s policies may specifically exclude wind coverage for damage that occurs in conjunction with a hurricane.
In a situation like this, homeowners may need to purchase additional coverage on top of their standard home insurance policy that applies to windstorm damage from a hurricane.
Hurricane Deductible
Another item homeowners have to watch for in an insurance policy related to hurricanes involves something called a hurricane deductible. In states like Louisiana that frequently have hurricanes, insurance companies might give homeowners a higher deductible for the covered peril a hurricane causes.
This separate deductible would be higher than what the homeowner’s policy has for regular storm damage or other types of damage. Policies often enact the hurricane deductible as soon as authorities issue a hurricane warning for an area.
Working Through Policy Questions
It can be difficult to understand all the specific aspects of a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy related to hurricane damage. Insurance companies may take advantage of this confusion to try to limit the payouts they make.
The insurer may act in bad faith by withholding information from you about what it should cover. You may need help deciphering your policy. Our legal team understands homeowners insurance policy language.
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ClientUnderstanding How a Renters Insurance Policy Works with Hurricanes
A renter’s insurance policy has quite a few of the same considerations as a homeowner’s policy regarding paying claims after a hurricane. Renter’s insurance does not provide specific hurricane coverage, but often, it will protect the renter’s possessions from the damage associated with the hurricane.
Although most policies will cover the same basic items related to a hurricane, some have a few exclusions. Always check the specific language in your renter’s policy regarding potential hurricane damage and insurance deductibles.
Specific Types of Hurricane Damage Covered in a Renters Policy
Here are some weather events associated with a hurricane that may cause damage to your property in a rental home or apartment:
- Lightning that causes a fire
- Wind
- Hail
- Damage to a natural gas line that leads to an explosion
- Falling objects striking your personal property
- Water damage unrelated to flooding
If winds in a hurricane destroyed the roof of your rental property, rain could enter the apartment through the hole. This could cause water damage to your personal property, which should apply to renters insurance coverage.
Items Your Renters Policy May Not Cover
Typically, a renters insurance policy will not have flood coverage. Should you suffer damage to your personal property related to a flood after a hurricane, you will not receive a payment.
Renters do have the option of purchasing an add-on to the renter’s insurance policy to cover flooding related to a hurricane or another kind of storm. Renters may need to go through the National Flood Insurance Program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to obtain flood insurance, as private insurers do not always offer flood coverage to renters.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWe Will Help You If You Are Facing a Dispute with Your Insurance Company
Damage from hurricanes and severe storms can be devastating. When filing an insurance claim for hurricane damage, you have the right to hire a Louisiana insurance claims lawyer. They can communicate with insurance agents and help if an insurance provider undervalues or denies your claim.
If you believe your insurer is not treating you fairly with your claim related to hurricane damage, consider hiring Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to protect your interests. Contact our team for a free consultation today. Our lawyers are ready to help you recover from property damage.
