As we enter hurricane season, nature reminds us that we have a lot to prepare for. From making sure we have everything we need to protect our families to making checklists in preparation for the aftermath, staying ready now will keep the stress levels down when the storm wears off.
While the surge grows in intensity, so does the risk of damage to and around your property.
However, people almost never prepare to have to file a lawsuit against their insurance company for disputes over breaches of contract, denied claims, or underpaid reimbursements.
Before you mentally prepare to file a claim, keep the following in mind to ensure you’re aware of how insurance companies handle wind versus flood damage.
The Cliff Notes: Key Takeaways From This Post
- 1Wind damage from hurricanes includes roof and wall destruction, power line disruption, and being hurled of objects.
- 2Flood damage from hurricanes causes serious water damage, inundation-related damage, and electrical damage.
- 3Homeowners insurance typically covers wind damage but not flood damage; flood insurance is needed for flooding caused by hurricanes.
- 4Sewer damage and car insurance can also be affected by hurricanes.
- 5If you need to file a claim for hurricane-related damages or have issues with an insurance provider, consider speaking to an insurance dispute attorney.
What is the difference between wind and flood damage?
Of the common types of the havoc caused by a hurricane, wind and flood damage are the two culprits that join forces to cause insurance companies to empty their pockets in dismay. In 2020 alone, the hurricane season cost a total of $47 billion, the seventh costliest hurricane season in history. Both wind and flood damage can cause serious damage.
When planning to file a claim, be sure to keep the following in mind.
Wind Damage
Hurricanes cause major winds, but strong gusts aren’t simply what makes these storms so dangerous. It’s what the wind carries with it, knocks over, spins into disarray, and so much more.
Hurricane winds can rip entire roofs off of houses, cave walls in, send power lines and heavy fixtures tumbling down, and propel unlikely objects—road lights, stop signs and more—far and wide.
In Florida and in other places where coastal communities are at seasonal risk of hurricane devastation, it is often recommended that you avoid planting tall trees and other signs on your property that constitute a wind hazard.
Keep this in mind when you’re filing a claim, because insurance properties will actually look into every nook and cranny when analyzing your case. Luckily, most homeowners insurance premiums include wind damage from hurricanes under their plans, on one hand. Flood damage, on the other hand, often goes uncovered by providers.
Flood Damage
Gusty winds aren’t the only thing blowing your insurance rates out of the water. When hurricanes practically send the ocean inland, large waves can flood basements, rip houses completely out of their foundation, and cause tens of millions of dollars in property damage.
Even worse, gusty winds can send columns of water through properties, a true recipe for disaster that insurance companies will still claim wasn’t caused by the wind itself, but rather the flooding. We recommend protecting yourself from both wind and flood damage by making sure you have plans for both, and staying up-to-date on what your insurance does and does not cover.
Know what your insurance covers
Insurance premiums are designed with loopholes to keep carriers not entirely sure of what their coverage plans look like.
While concurrent cases—claims that have to be filed independently, but work together to cause property damage—commonly arise following a hurricane, understanding what is covered is both important to your finances and wellbeing.
Hurricane insurance, in a nutshell, refers to the combination of different insurance coverages—homeowners, sewer, flood, and wind that are recognized by various providers—and not just one plan itself.
When researching the right type of hurricane insurance for your needs, you might be surprised