Are you prepared for Hurricane Season

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Top Insurance Steps to Take Before Hurricane Season Hits

Hurricane season can bring chaos, destruction, and significant financial burden. While stocking up on supplies and creating an evacuation plan are vital parts of preparation, ensuring your insurance coverage is hurricane-ready is just as critical—and often overlooked. Taking the right steps now can mean the difference between a smooth recovery and devastating losses later.

Here are the most important insurance-related steps to take before hurricane season arrives:

1. Review Your Current Insurance Policies

Start by reading through your homeowners, renters, or business insurance policies. Look for:

  • Coverage limits: Do they reflect today’s rebuilding or replacement costs?
  • Covered perils: Does your policy cover wind and water damage?
  • Exclusions: Understand what isn’t covered, especially regarding flooding and mold.

If you’re unsure about any policy language, call us for clarification.

2. Purchase Flood Insurance Early

Flood damage is not covered by standard homeowners or renters insurance. You’ll need a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.

👉 Important: NFIP policies take 30 days to go into effect. Don’t wait until a storm is on the radar—it will be too late.

3. Understand Your Deductibles

Many policies have separate hurricane or windstorm deductibles, which are typically a percentage of your home’s insured value—often 2% to 5%. That could be several thousand dollars out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in.

Make sure you’re financially prepared to cover your deductible if you need to file a claim.

4. Document Your Belongings and Property

Create a detailed home inventory:

  • Take photos or videos of each room, focusing on valuable items.
  • Record serial numbers, receipts, and appraisals if possible.
  • Store the documentation in a safe, accessible location—preferably backed up digitally.

This will streamline the claims process and ensure you’re properly compensated for losses.

5. Update Your Insurance if You’ve Renovated

Have you added a new roof, remodeled your kitchen, or built a home office in the past year? Improvements may increase the replacement cost of your home—and if your policy hasn’t been updated, you could be underinsured.

Notify your insurance provider of any changes or additions.

6. Bundle and Protect Important Documents

Keep copies of the following in a waterproof, fireproof container or upload them to a secure cloud storage:

  • Insurance policies
  • Home inventory
  • Identification documents
  • Mortgage and deed papers
  • Emergency contact information

You’ll need these if you’re displaced or need to file a claim quickly.

7. Ask About Loss of Use and Business Interruption Coverage

  • Homeowners/Renters: Check if your policy includes loss of use coverage, which pays for temporary housing and living expenses if your home is uninhabitable after a storm.
  • Business Owners: Confirm whether you have business interruption insurance, which can cover lost income and operating expenses during downtime.

8. Check Auto Insurance Coverage

If you live in a hurricane-prone area, make sure your auto policy includes comprehensive coverage, which pays for damage from flooding, falling trees, or debris—not just collisions.

9. Stay in Touch with Us

Ensure your insurance company has your updated contact information, including an alternate phone number or email address you can access during an evacuation.

Also, ask if your insurer offers a mobile app or online claims system, which can be crucial if phone lines are down post-storm.

10. Don’t Wait Until a Storm is Named

Insurance carriers often place binding restrictions on policies once a storm is within a certain distance or timeframe. That means you won’t be able to buy, upgrade, or make changes to your policy at the last minute.

Take action well before hurricane season ramps up—ideally by May or early June.

Final Thoughts

Insurance isn’t just a post-disaster tool—it’s a key part of hurricane preparedness. By taking these proactive steps, you’ll strengthen your financial safety net and give yourself one less thing to worry about if disaster strikes. As hurricanes grow stronger and more frequent, now is the time to ensure your insurance is ready for the storm.