What Does Hurricane Insurance Cover in Louisiana?
Hurricane insurance in Louisiana typically doesn’t exist as a standalone policy. Instead, it’s a combination of different types of coverage that work together to protect your property from various aspects of hurricane damage.
Here’s what you need to know about hurricane insurance coverage in Louisiana. If a hurricane has hit your home and you want legal advice on getting the most from your insurance claim, contact our Louisiana hurricane damage lawyers.
What Is Considered Hurricane Damage?
Hurricanes cause several kinds of damage due to their powerful winds, changing pressures, and heavy rainfall. This makes them complicated to insure against. Hurricanes can cause:
- Roof damage from high winds or falling debris
- Structural damage to your home’s walls, windows, or foundation
- Water damage from rain entering through openings caused by the storm
- Flooding from storm surges or overflowing bodies of water
- Damage to personal property inside your home
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?
Standard homeowners insurance policies in Louisiana typically cover some aspects of hurricane damage but not all. Notably, standard policies do not cover flooding, including flooding caused by storm surges.
In Louisiana, many insurance companies have begun offering separate wind and hail policies. These policies specifically cover damage caused by wind and hail, including during hurricanes. Wind and hail policies typically cover damage to your home’s structure and personal property caused by high winds or hail.
If you live in a high-risk coastal area, your standard homeowner’s insurance policy might exclude wind and hail coverage. In this case, a separate wind and hail policy becomes essential for protecting your home from hurricane damage.
Higher Deductibles for Hurricanes
In Louisiana, many policies have higher deductibles for hurricanes and named storms, which can be significantly higher than your standard deductible. They’re often between one and five percent of the value of your home.
Even with a good policy, you may still have to pay an enormous amount of money out of pocket before the insurer will cover the damage to your home. In Louisiana, three types of deductibles could apply to storm damage to your home:
- Named storm deductibles: These come into effect when winds reach 39 mph.
- Hurricane deductibles: These come into effect when winds reach 74 mph.
- Wind and hail deductibles: These come into effect any time wind from a hurricane, tropical storm, tornado, or other weather event impacts that harmed your property.
With the increase in the number of hurricanes each year, Louisiana Statute § 22:1267.1 was passed to tell insurers they could only charge commercial property owners one hurricane deductible each calendar year.
How Can I Cover Flood Damage After a Hurricane?
Flooding from storm surge is often one of the most destructive aspects of a hurricane, and standard homeowner policies do not cover it. You’ll need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. Louisiana typically does this through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers.
Flood insurance covers damage to your home and personal property caused by flooding, including:
- Water damage to your home’s structure and foundation
- Damage to personal property such as furniture, clothing, and appliances
- Cleanup expenses associated with flood damage
Given Louisiana’s high risk of flooding, especially during hurricane season, flood insurance should be part of your insurance policies so you can get comprehensive protection.
Are There Any Additional Coverages I Should Consider?
While homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and wind and hail coverage form the core of hurricane protection, there are additional coverages you might want to consider:
Loss of Use Coverage
This coverage helps pay for additional living expenses if you’re forced to relocate temporarily due to hurricane damage. It can cover costs such as:
- Hotel bills
- Restaurant meals
- Other necessary expenses incurred while your home is uninhabitable
Ordinance or Law Coverage
If your home is severely damaged, you may be required to rebuild according to current building codes, which can be more expensive. Ordinance or law coverage helps pay for these additional costs.
Personal Property Replacement Cost Coverage
This ensures you’re reimbursed for the full cost of replacing damaged personal property rather than its depreciated value.
How Can I Ensure I Have Adequate Hurricane Coverage?
Ensuring you have adequate hurricane coverage involves several steps:
- Review your current policies carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered.
- Consider your risk factors, such as your home’s location and construction.
- Speak with your insurance agent about any gaps in your coverage and how to address them.
- Update your coverage regularly, especially if you’ve made improvements to your home or acquired valuable personal property.
- Keep an up-to-date home inventory to make the claims process smoother if you do experience hurricane damage.
Contact a Hurricane Damage Lawyer for Help With Your Insurance Claim
Hurricane insurance coverage in Louisiana is not a single policy but a collection of different policies and riders. By combining homeowners insurance, flood insurance, wind and hail coverage, and other policies, you can create a comprehensive protection plan against hurricane damage.
We encourage you to contact our Louisiana insurance claim lawyers at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for personalized guidance about getting the most from your hurricane insurance claim.
