Hurricane Season Comes Every Three Minutes…
There’s a saying that as you get older, Christmas comes every 5 minutes. In the insurance industry, we say hurricane season comes every three minutes. The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season could be one of the quietest in recent memory due to a strengthening El Niño.
No matter the severity of the season, Florida homeowners should be ready for whatever comes next. Here are three things every Florida homeowner should know when choosing a policy.
1) Carry a separate flood insurance policy. Most Florida homeowners choose the cheapest quote. Sadly, the cheapest quote typically doesn’t include flood insurance. As a result, after Hurricane Ian, fewer than 1 in 5 homes in Florida’s hardest-hit counties had flood insurance.
It is not enough to wait until the National Weather Service releases its hurricane season predictions, as flood insurance policies often require a 30-day waiting period per the NFIP. That is why it is imperative that you get a flood insurance policy before hurricane season rears its ugly head.
2) Verify that you have replacement cost value coverage, not actual cash value. After a hurricane, actual cash value pays what your roof is worth today after depreciation.
If your 18-year-old roof would cost $18,000 to replace, the insurance company will now assess it at only $5,000 in actual cash value. Sadly, this means the remaining $13,000 cost to replace your roof comes straight out of your pocket. Replacement cost value, on the other hand, covers the full cost of replacing your roof with one of equivalent value. So, with that same $18,000 roof, your coverage would be $18,000, and your out-of-pocket expense would be your hurricane deductible.
3) Understand your hurricane deductible percentage before a storm hits, not after. Just like how you don’t want to order linguine alle vongole for a family member with a shellfish allergy, you want to completely understand each and every ingredient of your insurance policy.
What is and isn't covered by your Hurricane deductible? Unlike a standard home insurance deductible, a hurricane deductible is usually calculated as a percentage of your home's insured value, not a flat dollar amount. Let's bust out the calculator. If your home is insured for $600,000 with a 2% hurricane deductible, that means you’ll pay $12,000 to cover the hurricane damage before the deductible kicks in.
Mama Mia! That’s why the most important questions for your insurance agent are ‘Hey, what is covered, and what isn’t covered by my current policy?’ With the right agent, these two simple questions can unlock future savings and restore your peace of mind.