Everything You Need To Know About Hurricanes, Tropical Storms & Your Property Insurance

Hurricanes, tropical storms, and other severe weather events can be incredibly destructive, causing damage to homes, businesses, and communities. As a property owner, it’s important to understand how these storms can affect your insurance coverage and take steps to protect yourself and your property. In this blog post, we will dive deeper into everything you need to know about hurricanes, tropical storms, and your property insurance. We will cover topics such as the different types of storms, the importance of reviewing your insurance coverage, how to prepare for a storm, and what to do if your property is damaged.

By understanding these important concepts, you can better protect yourself and your property in the event of a severe weather event. So, whether you live in an area prone to hurricanes or tropical storms or not, it’s always better to be prepared and informed.

Understanding the different types of hurricanes and tropical storms

Summer is the perfect time for outdoor adventures and relaxation, but it’s also the time when many property owners start to worry about the upcoming hurricane season. The season officially starts in June and lasts until November, but it’s important to be prepared all year round.

Understanding the different types of storms is important for preparing for and responding to severe weather events.

Here is more information on the different types of storms and what to expect from each:

• Hurricanes: Hurricanes are large, powerful storms that form over warm ocean waters. They are classified as Category 1 to 5 based on wind speed, with Category 5 being the most severe. Category 1 hurricanes have wind speeds of 74-95 mph, while Category 5 hurricanes have wind speeds of 157 mph or higher. Hurricanes can cause significant damage to homes and property, including flooding, structural damage, and power outages. Hurricanes can bring much more rainfall than tropical storms, and this can cause flooding and landslides.

• Tropical Storms: A tropical storm is a low-pressure system that has sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour. These storms typically form over warm ocean waters, and they can bring heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surges. Tropical storms have a smaller circulation and are not able to produce as much rainfall.

The impact of hurricanes and tropical storms on property insurance

Reviewing your property insurance is an important step in preparing for a storm. Here are a few key things to consider when reviewing your coverage:

• Damage coverage: Make sure you understand what types of damage are covered under your policy. This can include damage from high winds, flooding, and falling debris. It’s also important to understand any exclusions or limitations in your policy, such as damage caused by a lack of maintenance or a natural disaster that is not covered.

• Replacement cost vs. actual cash value: Your policy may provide coverage for the replacement cost of your property or the actual cash value of your property. The replacement cost is the amount it would cost to replace your property with new items of similar kind and quality, while the actual cash value is the replacement cost minus any depreciation. Make sure you understand which type of coverage you have and how it may affect your claim.

• Additional living expenses: Some policies include coverage for additional living expenses if you are unable to live in your property due to damage. This can include expenses such as hotel stays and restaurant meals. Make sure you understand what types of expenses are covered and what the limits are.

• Flood insurance: It’s important to note that standard property insurance does not cover flood damage. If you live in an area that is at risk for flooding, you’ll need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. Make sure you understand the coverage limits and exclusions of your flood insurance policy.

After the storm hits, another big concern that comes from hurricanes and tropical storms is the potential damage they can cause to your property.

Hurricane damage can range in size and intensity that can affect almost every single area in your property. Even the smallest of storms can lead to catastrophic amounts of damage that you can’t repair easily or affordably on your own. Be sure to check your property carefully after a storm, as there is a myriad of damages that could take place as a result of a hurricane:

• Roof Damage – Wind damage to roof tiles or the entire roof being blown apart, crushing damage from debris.

• Windows and Door Damage – dents to stormproof windows and doors, cracks to windows, door jambs, and windowsills.

• Water Damage – Flooding from the storm itself or storm damage to your roof, windows, and doors.

• Lightning Damage – this can cause fires or electrical surges.

After the storm

For most property owners, the idea of paying even a few thousand dollars on roof repairs or clearing debris away from their property is hard to imagine. Without property insurance, rebuilding is almost impossible. With insurance? Many property owners find themselves struggling to get their insurance companies to pay the amount needed to make complete repairs following a hurricane or tropical storm.

However, this is where public adjusters like Bulldog Adjusters come in. After a hurricane or another natural disaster that does widespread damage, we work hard to get you the best possible settlement for your claim! Unlike the insurance adjusters that work for insurance companies and whose goal it is to make sure that their employers don’t lose money, public adjusters work for you.

Following a massive natural disaster like a hurricane or tropical storm, we understand that recovery and safety are the most important things on any property owner’s mind.

At Bulldog, our adjusters make the claims process easy, and we guarantee we will be working hard on your insurance claim every single day.  We know what it’s like to struggle through a hurricane and the hassle of getting an insurance company to give a satisfying settlement the first time around.

Bulldog Adjusters is the insurance claim disaster expert. 

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, our adjusters throughout the nation are ready to help property owners navigate the complex insurance claim process while putting the pieces of their lives together. Our experience with Hurricane Ian of 2022 took our adjusters all over Florida, and we developed new ways to prioritize our client’s needs. Our team holds a strong sense of care for our clients that fuels our drive to help clients around the country put their lives together after a natural disaster like a hurricane. 

Still in the planning phases as you wait for a storm to arrive? If you’re ready, reach out to Your Large Loss Adjuster over a storm damage claim! Our experts are always available to answer all your disaster-related questions.

We make sure that you know everything that you’ll need to keep your family organized and safe in the time before, during, and after a storm hits! 

Related: Navigating the Aftermath of Disaster: What to Do When your Property is Too Damaged to Be Inside