Home Insurance Mistakes to Avoid During Hurricane Season

2020 is turning out to be quite a year for major storms. Named storms are forming at a record pace. Experts are predicting as many as 25 named storms to hit the Atlantic this season which is close to double the average number. Hurricane Laura has already done almost $12 billion in insured losses this year. 

If you live in a hurricane prone state or on the coast, you should make sure you are prepared for the hurricane season and your home is fully protected. Here are a few insurance mistakes to avoid as we head into hurricane season.

Not carrying flood insurance

A standard homeowner policy does not cover flood damage or damage done by floodwaters. In order for your home to be protected you will need to put a flood insurance policy in place. According to the Insurance Information Institute, only 15 percent of American households are carrying flood insurance. 

Flood damage can happen very quickly and be very expensive. It is also the biggest driver of insurance claims when it comes to hurricanes. Flood damage causes more residential losses than wind damage according to the U.S. Congressional Budget Office. 

If you live on the coast you absolutely need to carry flood insurance but even homes in medium to low risk areas can benefit from flood insurance. Roughly 20 percent of flood insurance claims happen in low to medium risk areas according to the Insurance Information Institute. Flood damage can quickly add up as well, FEMA data shows that just one inch of water in a home can cause up to $25,000 in damage. 

Flood insurance can be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or in the private market. NFIP policies come with a variety of restrictions and coverage caps but are often the most affordable options when it comes to flood insurance. Depending on the value of your home, you may need to supplement a NFIP policy with one purchased in the private market. 

According to FEMA the average cost of a flood insurance policy is $700 a year but this can vary dramatically depending on where you home is actually located. While flood insurance can be expensive, it can also be a financial lifesaver if your home is severally damaged or destroyed by flooding. 

Waiting till the last minute to buy coverage

Almost all flood insurance policies come with a waiting period before coverage kicks in to protect your home. NFIP policies come with a 30-day waiting period and even private market policies often have a waiting period of at least two weeks.

What this means is that if a hurricane is on its way, it is almost always too late to purchase an insurance policy. 

“Don’t wait until the storm is coming,” said Mark Friedlander, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, in a recent Nerdwallet article.  “Most insurers will put a moratorium in place once a storm watch or warning is issued by the weather service, so you can’t make any changes to your policy.”

Once a storm has been named and is within a certain distance from shore, most insurers will stop selling policies or making changes to a policy so if you need to up your coverage levels or add a coverage, it will be too late if the storm is on its way. 

Choosing an unaffordable deductible 

When it comes to storm damage, deductibles are often different than a standard deductible for a fire or theft. Many insurers have moved to a percentage deductible when it comes to wind or flood damage. It should be noted that NFIP policies come with a standard deductible that can range from $1,000 to $10,000. 

A percentage deductible on the other hand puts your deductible at a percentage of the total coverage amount you are carrying on your home. Typically, this will fall in the 1% to 10% range. As an example, if you are carrying $350,000 in coverage on your home and have a 5 percent deductible your deductible would be $17,500. 

This is a fairly serious amount of money to come up with and if you cannot afford your deductible, the damage may never be fully repaired. While choosing a higher deductible will lower your premium, you should never choose a deductible that you cannot easily afford as that choice may come back to bite you if you have to make a claim on your policy. 

“People should never take a higher deductible than they can afford,” said says Lynne McChristian, director of the Office of Risk Management and Insurance Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in the Nerdwallet article. “The amount you save in premiums is insignificant compared to the amount you would get at claim time.”

Not carrying enough coverage

Homeowners insurance is only effective if you are carrying the proper amount. If a major storm hits and destroys or severely damages your home and you are not carrying enough insurance, you will be on the hook for some of the rebuilding costs. 

Construction costs and the demand for contractors goes up dramatically after a major storm hits an area so make sure you are carrying enough coverage to repair or rebuild your home. Contact your agent to check your coverage levels as well as local building costs. If you have made any recent home improvements, notify your insurer to make sure your coverage levels are still appropriate.