Hurricane season has reached its peak months in the US, and the past few years have seen above-average hurricane activity. Extreme weather can be devastating and scary, not to mention very, very expensive if you incur damage during a storm.

Being prepared and staying informed are key to keeping your family safe during a storm. Ready.gov has helpful hurricane tips for making sure you are prepped and ready, should your area come under a hurricane warning. Ensuring your insurance coverage will actually cover the storm damage you could face is key to protecting yourself from costly repairs.

What do you need to know about protecting your home, family and car financially during a hurricane? We’ve created this quick and dirty guide to help you prepare your insurance, home and car for storms.

Hurricanes and Homeowners Insurance

Your homeowners insurance can provide important protections during an extreme weather event - if you have adequate coverage levels. Before a storm hits, give your insurance agent a call to review a few important things:

  • Check that you have enough structures coverage to rebuild if your home were to suffer huge damages.

  • Take an inventory of your belongings to ensure that you have enough contents coverage to replace your things should they be damaged during a storm.

  • Review any exclusions specific to your policy. The best way to protect your home and belongings is to know that they’ll be covered in case of damage. Pay particular attention to flooding and downed trees and be sure to ask your agent about those types of damage.

The good news is that wind damage, common with hurricanes, is typically covered under a homeowners insurance policy. The bad news is that flood damage, also common for some during hurricanes, typically requires coverage from a dedicated flood insurance policy.

Be aware that properly maintaining your home is essential to filing a successful claim. Before a storm hits, you’ll want to make sure you’ve made necessary small repairs and chores, like fixing a leaky roof or cleaning your gutters.

Does your homeowners insurance offer adequate hurricane coverage? Speak with an InsuraMatch agent today at 844-232-2700 or request a quote online:

 

 

Hurricanes and Flood Insurance

Hurricanes can mean heavy rains and stormy seas… is your home protected? A typical homeowners insurance policy does not provide coverage to protect your home from flood damages, but a flood insurance policy can.

Even areas away from the ocean or rivers can flood, especially when there are extreme weather conditions. Speak with your insurance agent about your risk and whether flood insurance could be a wise investment. If your area is prone to extreme weather but not in a FEMA flood zone, it may be wise to think about getting coverage.

With both your flood and homeowners insurance coverage, keep these points in mind:

  • You may want to consider replacement cost coverage for your belongings, even though this type of coverage is typically more expensive. This will help ensure that your belongings are replaced by items of like kind and quality.

  • Check on your ALE coverage. ALE stands for additional living expenses and this is coverage that kicks in if your home is unlivable due to damage. You’ll want to understand what yours does and doesn’t cover so that if you are forced to relocate after a storm, you’ll be able to make choices that can be reimbursed by your insurance coverage.

Does you carry flood insurance coverage? Speak with an InsuraMatch agent today at 844-232-2700 or request a quote online:

 

 

Hurricanes and Auto Insurance

If you have just the minimum amount of auto insurance required by your state, chances are your car will not be covered against damage from hurricanes. State minimums typically require liability coverage, not coverage for your car itself. If you are worried about storm damage to your car, you’ll want to consider adding comprehensive and potentially collision coverage.

Comprehensive coverage provides coverage for damage to your car caused by things outside your control that aren’t other drivers. Things like “acts of nature” or “acts of God” are typically included in this coverage, like hurricanes or even vandalism.

If extreme weather causes you to get in an accident, you’ll want to have collision coverage under your auto insurance to cover those damages to your vehicle. Collision will cover the repairs if your vehicle crashes into something, be it a tree or other vehicle. Though you shouldn’t be driving during extreme weather, even the start of a storm can make conditions dangerous.

Call your insurance agent to review if you should add to your auto insurance policy to minimize your hurricane risk.

Does your auto insurance offer adequate hurricane coverage? Speak with an InsuraMatch agent today at 855-244-7671 or request a quote online:

 

 

Before you buy…

An important reminder for all of these types of insurance is that you cannot buy insurance right before a storm. Most policies have a waiting period before coverage goes into effect, so be sure to consider these coverages before you need them! Some policies will enact a 30-day waiting period, so talk to your agent ASAP!

Preparation is key for hurricane season, but having the right insurance in place can help you bounce back faster if you run into home or car damage. Stay safe!