Hurricane Prep: What you need to know about home insurance coverage
Having an understanding of your home insurance policy is important as you prepare for a hurricane — or any other catastrophic event for that matter.
We’ve outlined seven necessary steps to understanding your home insurance, allowing you to navigate your policy effectively.
This list was put together with helpful advice from the WRAL Severe Weather team.
1. Create an emergency kit
Keep essential supplies on hand in a home emergency kit. Keep your home insurance information, along with other important documentation near your home emergency kit. This makes for quick accessibility in the event of an emergency. If possible, store your documents in a waterproof container or bag.
2. Review your home insurance policy
First things first, let’s find your home insurance policy and review it. Pay close attention to the coverage types, limits, deductibles and exclusions. Make sure your policy covers damage caused by hurricanes, windstorms, flooding (more to come on this topic) and other related perils. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to your insurance agent or provider for clarification, take notes of this conversation and store them in your guide.
3. Assess coverage adequacy
While you’re contacting your insurer, go ahead and ask them to help determine whether you have enough coverage. While we don’t like to think about worst-case scenarios, home insurance is a benefit that extends from repairs to home rebuilds. Consider the potential costs involved in rebuilding your home, replacing personal belongings and covering additional living expenses (if you need to temporarily relocate after a hurricane).
Keep in mind that standard home insurance policies may have limitations on coverage for high-value items such as jewelry, electronics or artwork. If necessary, consider purchasing additional coverage or riders to protect these valuable possessions. Home values change too, and it’s important to maintain coverage that makes sense to your unique lifestyle.
4. Document your belongings
This is best done as you purchase high-value items. If you have not already, create a comprehensive inventory of your belongings. take photographs or videos of each room, including valuable items, and store them in a safe place or on cloud storage. Take individual photos of high-value items like jewelry, technology and art, etc. If possible, also take corresponding photos of their receipts or proof of purchase. This documentation will be crucial when filing a claim after a hurricane, as it provides evidence of your possessions and their condition before the storm.
5. Secure your property
Minimize potential damage by taking proactive measures to secure one of your most valuable assets. Trim trees and shrubs near your home, secure loose objects, reinforce doors and windows, and install storm shutters or impact-resistant glass. These precautions can help reduce the risk of wind damage and increase your home's resilience during a hurricane.
6. Understand the claims process
Familiarize yourself with the claims process of your insurance provider. Know how to report a claim, the required documentation, and the time frame for filing claims after a hurricane. Keep your insurance company's contact information readily available, saving it on your phone or in a secure online storage account for easy access.
Organize your policy documents by order of claim process. Keeping all contact, claim, and coverage information in the front of the guide. Highlight relevant information and make it easy to find.
7. Understand flood insurance
Standard home insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage – at least not the kind caused by weather. Given that hurricanes often bring heavy rainfall and storm surges, it's essential to assess your flood insurance needs regularly. If you live in a high-risk flood zone, consider purchasing a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.
Pro tip: There is a waiting period before flood insurance coverage goes into effect, so don't delay securing this coverage if you need it.
