Home Insurance for Those in Hurricane-Prone Areas

Hurricane Katrina was a defining moment in United States history—not only was it the costliest natural disaster ever to befall the U.S., but on a more personal level, over 300,000 homes were destroyed or deemed uninhabitable. Residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida felt the wrath of Katrina more than anyone. 2 years later, the images of people waving SOS flags from atop their roofs and completely obliterated towns are still ingrained in our memories.

Who Needs Hurricane Protection?

Coastal communities in the following states are deemed “high-risk,” meaning property owners in these areas face doubling or tripling insurance rates, or even being completely dropped by their insurance companies:

• Alabama
  
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• New York
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Virginia.

Although hurricanes despoil coastal areas, communities more than 100 miles inland are also frequently affected. Several days after initial landfall, these inland communities suffer torrential rains, and subsequently floods. So regardless if you live 100 feet or 100 miles from the shore, it’s important to make sure that you have an insurance policy that covers your home from damages incurred either as a direct or indirect result of hurricanes.

5 Critical Home Insurance Hurricane Tips

• Buy enough insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding your home and replacing all of your personal belongings.
• Find out how much coverage in “additional living expenses” you have. Such coverage applies to costs such as hotel or any other type of temporary housing.
• Inquire about flood insurance. Flood insurance is not covered under a typical home insurance policy.
• Go through your personal property and reassess your home’s value annually. Many who remodel or improve their homes often forget to follow through with their insurance agents to update their policies.
• Minimize the damage that can be done to your home:
  
  • Nail plywood panels to your window frames or install storm shutters
  • Install a garage door that can withstand high winds and impact from flying debris
  • Use doors that have deadbolts at least one-inch long.