Florida homeowners insurance covers wind and rain damage from hurricanes, but it does NOT cover flood damage — and flood damage is often the most costly component of hurricane losses in Florida. Specifically, your standard homeowners policy pays for roof damage from high winds, broken windows, wind-driven rain intrusion, and structural damage from wind pressure. However, any damage caused by storm surge, rising water, or overflow requires a separate flood insurance policy.
What Hurricane Damage Is Covered in Florida?
Specifically, standard homeowners insurance in Florida covers wind-related damage including roof shingle loss, siding damage, fallen trees striking your home, and wind-driven rain that enters through a wind-created opening. Additionally, your policy covers personal property damaged by covered perils and typically provides additional living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable due to covered wind damage.
Important Coverage Details
However, Florida homeowners face a critical coverage gap during hurricanes: damage from storm surge and flooding is excluded from homeowners policies. In fact, during Hurricane Ian in 2022, storm surge reaching 12-18 feet in parts of Southwest Florida caused the majority of property losses, and homeowners without flood insurance received nothing for that damage. Consequently, carrying both homeowners and flood insurance is essential in hurricane-prone Florida.
Understanding Florida’s Hurricane Deductible
Importantly, Florida homeowners policies include a separate hurricane deductible that is typically 2-10% of your home’s insured value — much higher than the standard $1,000-$2,500 all-perils deductible. Specifically, on a $400,000 home with a 5% hurricane deductible, you would pay the first $20,000 of any hurricane wind claim out of pocket.
What This Means for Your Coverage
Furthermore, in Florida the hurricane deductible applies once per calendar year, and it covers hurricane losses from the time the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane watch or warning for any part of Florida until 72 hours after the last watch or warning ends. In practice, choosing a higher hurricane deductible lowers your annual premium but increases your financial exposure during a storm. Additionally, some coastal Florida properties may only be offered 10% hurricane deductibles, making the out-of-pocket cost substantial.
Wind Mitigation and Florida Building Code
Florida offers significant insurance discounts for homes that meet current wind mitigation standards. Specifically, a wind mitigation inspection can document features like roof-to-wall connections (clips vs. straps), roof deck attachment, roof geometry (hip vs. gable), and opening protection (shutters or impact glass). As a result, homeowners with verified wind mitigation features can save 20-45% on their wind premium.
Additionally, to review your hurricane coverage and identify gaps, get a free quote from Bridgeway Insurance or call 877-418-2484.
Key Details
- Hurricane deductible options. Florida insurers generally must offer hurricane deductible choices of $500, 2%, 5%, and 10% of your dwelling coverage, although availability can depend on your home’s value and location.
- Annual, not per storm. In Florida, the hurricane deductible applies once per calendar year. If more than one hurricane damages your home in the same year, you generally will not pay a second full hurricane deductible; after the first, your regular all-other-perils deductible or remaining hurricane deductible amount applies under your policy terms.
- Flood is separate. Storm surge and rising water require a flood policy. Citizens Property Insurance policyholders are now required by Florida law to carry flood coverage, phased in by home value.
- Replacement cost and ordinance or law. Make sure your dwelling limit reflects current rebuilding costs and ask about ordinance or law coverage, which helps pay for upgrades required by the Florida Building Code when you rebuild.
- Mitigation pays off. Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for qualifying wind mitigation features. The state’s My Safe Florida Home program has offered free wind mitigation inspections and matching grants for eligible homeowners, subject to funding.
Higher-value homes often need more than a standard policy. Ask about extended replacement cost, higher limits for personal property and valuables, and a personal umbrella policy to protect your assets from liability claims.
Why Are Insurance Rates So High in Florida?
How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost in Florida?
