Are you protected if a hurricane hits? Explore how windstorm deductibles, flood insurance and standard coverage work together to protect your home.
Article: 5 minutes
Updated: June 13, 2026 Published: June 11, 2015
By: USAA Reviewed by: Editorial contributors
Most homeowners and renters insurance policies don’t fully cover your home if it is damaged by a hurricane. You’ll also need flood insurance and a policy or insurance rider to protect you against wind damage.
Hurricanes and other natural disasters can be scary. The last thing you need to think about when you’re worried about keeping your family safe is whether potential storm damage could leave you struggling financially. That’s why storm preparation is key. But proper prep is about more than stocking up on emergency supplies and mapping out your evacuation route. You also need to make sure your home is protected with homeowners insurance, flood insurance, windstorm riders and other insurance products so you’re fully prepared.
Here, we’ll explore what you need to know to make sure you have the insurance coverage you need.
Standard homeowners insurance or renters insurance policies typically cover wind-driven rain and wind damage from a hurricane but not flood and storm surge damage. Protecting your home from a hurricane requires a mix of coverage, including a homeowners or renters insurance policy, a windstorm rider if applicable and a separate flood insurance policy.
Most hurricanes involve wind and water that can severely damage your home. But while you may think of it as collective storm damage, your insurance does not. When it comes to wind versus water, insurance policies handle them separately.
For example, let’s say your home is filled with water during a hurricane. You have flood insurance, so you think the damage is covered. Not so fast: If rain was propelled into your home by wind, it’s considered wind-driven rain and not covered by your flood insurance policy. However, it might be covered by your homeowners policy or a windstorm rider. If the hurricane caused flash flooding or river overflow that entered your home, that’s considered a direct result of flooding and likely would be covered by your flood insurance.
If you live in a hurricane-prone area or a region that frequently experiences natural disasters, your homeowners insurance might have a separate deductible for hurricanes and named storms, as well as a separate deductible for wind or hail.
A hurricane or named storm deductible is usually higher than traditional flat-rate deductibles, but they’re usually only triggered by specific circumstances. For example, named storm deductibles usually only apply to damage caused during set time periods by storms that are severe enough to be named by the National Weather Service, often 24 hours before a storm is named by the weather service and up to 48 hours after a hurricane is downgraded to a tropical storm. During this period, your hurricane or named storm deductible will apply to any damage, instead of your policy’s typical wind or hail deductible.
Hurricane or named storm deductibles are usually higher than traditional homeowners insurance deductibles because they’re based on a percentage of your home’s value, instead of a fixed amount, typically 1% to 5% of your totally insured amount. In high-risk areas, it could be as high as 10%.
After a storm hits, you don’t want to be surprised to discover gaps in your insurance coverage just when you need protection the most. Secure your home with flood insurance and wind insurance.
If you live near the coast, your homeowners insurance may not include damage caused by winds during a storm. For that, you’ll need windstorm coverage. A windstorm policy covers your home, personal belongings and other structures if they’re damaged by hurricanes, hail, tornadoes or other windstorm events. It may be required by your mortgage company if your home is in a high-risk area.
Most homeowners and renters insurance policies don’t cover water damage from a natural disaster like a hurricane. Instead, protect your home and belongings with flood insurance. It protects you from flooding caused by the storm’s rain, whether on the coast or inland, where days of rain can oversaturate the ground and lead to flooding.
The National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. It provides affordable, government-backed flood insurance to property owners, renters and businesses. It offers tools and resources to help you understand your flood risk, as well as how to protect your home and recover from a flood.
Private insurance may offer flexibility and more flood coverage options, but an NFIP policy may have lower premiums. It also may be more easily obtainable in flood-prone areas. However, you can’t wait until a storm is brewing to buy NFIP flood insurance. There is a 30-day waiting period before your NFIP policy takes effect.
In some high-risk coastal areas, like Florida, Texas and the Carolinas, private insurers exclude windstorm coverage. Residents in those regions may need to purchase windstorm insurance through a state-managed pool. Often viewed as “last-resort” coverage options or beach plans, these policies often provide wind-only coverage and require a separate, higher deductible for wind damage.
To be eligible for state-sponsored flood insurance, you generally must show that you can’t get flood insurance from traditional insurance companies.
Here are a few ways a hurricane could damage your home and what insurance you’ll need to cover the damage.
Potential hurricane damage |
Wind tears off roof shingles |
|---|---|
Is it covered by homeowners insurance? |
Yes, but could be subject to a hurricane deductible |
Do you need a supplemental policy? |
In some coastal states, you might need a windstorm policy |
Potential hurricane damage |
Rain enters house through broken window |
Is it covered by homeowners insurance? |
Yes |
Do you need a supplemental policy? |
No |
Potential hurricane damage |
Storm surge floods the living room |
Is it covered by homeowners insurance? |
No |
Do you need a supplemental policy? |
Yes, flood insurance |
Potential hurricane damage |
Nearby river overflows into home |
Is it covered by homeowners insurance? |
No |
Do you need a supplemental policy? |
Yes, flood insurance |
Potential hurricane damage |
Tree blows onto the garage |
Is it covered by homeowners insurance? |
Yes |
Do you need a supplemental policy? |
No |
| Potential hurricane damage | Is it covered by homeowners insurance? | Do you need a supplemental policy? |
|---|---|---|
Wind tears off roof shingles |
Yes, but could be subject to a hurricane deductible |
In some coastal states, you might need a windstorm policy |
Rain enters house through broken window |
Yes |
No |
Storm surge floods the living room |
No |
Yes, flood insurance |
Nearby river overflows into home |
No |
Yes, flood insurance |
Tree blows onto the garage |
Yes |
No |
| Potential hurricane damage | Wind tears off roof shingles |
|---|---|
| Is it covered by homeowners insurance? | Yes, but could be subject to a hurricane deductible |
| Do you need a supplemental policy? | In some coastal states, you might need a windstorm policy |
| Potential hurricane damage | Rain enters house through broken window |
| Is it covered by homeowners insurance? | Yes |
| Do you need a supplemental policy? | No |
| Potential hurricane damage | Storm surge floods the living room |
| Is it covered by homeowners insurance? | No |
| Do you need a supplemental policy? | Yes, flood insurance |
| Potential hurricane damage | Nearby river overflows into home |
| Is it covered by homeowners insurance? | No |
| Do you need a supplemental policy? | Yes, flood insurance |
| Potential hurricane damage | Tree blows onto the garage |
| Is it covered by homeowners insurance? | Yes |
| Do you need a supplemental policy? | No |
It’s important to understand how your insurance can help protect you even before the storm makes landfall so that you’re properly prepared.
Once a tropical storm or hurricane has been named and enters a specific geographic region, insurers issue a binding suspension or lockout on new policies. That means that as a storm is bearing down, you won’t be able to buy new property or flood insurance or make changes to your existing coverage.
If you have to evacuate your home because of a hurricane or its rendered uninhabitable because of storm damage, you may be able to use loss of use coverage to pay for temporary living expenses like a hotel room, groceries and pet boarding.
After the storm passes, wait until you can safely return to your home to assess the damage. If you need to file a claim, understanding your responsibilities will make things go a lot smoother.
A little prep work before the storm can make filing a claim after one easier. Before hurricane season begins, take a complete inventory of your home and belongings, including photographs. Then, after the storm, take photos of any damage from a variety of angles before you begin clearing any debris or making any repairs.
Once it’s safe for you to return home and documented any damage, you need to take steps to prevent further problems. That could mean putting a tarp on a damaged roof to prevent water from seeping into the house and causing further damage, or pumping water out of a flooded basement to prevent mold or other issues.
If you have to purchase materials like a tarp or hire professionals to help with temporary repairs, save your receipts. Your insurance company may reimburse you for these expenses. However, do not begin making permanent repairs or rebuilding until an insurance adjuster arrives and assesses the damage.
Question: Does standard homeowners insurance cover hurricanes?
No, most homeowners insurance policies do not fully cover hurricane damage. Instead, you’ll need a mix of policies, including homeowners or renters insurance, a windstorm rider and flood insurance to make sure you have the coverage you need to protect your home and possessions.
Question: What is a hurricane deductible and how does it work?
A hurricane deductible is a specific, often high amount that homeowners must pay out of pocket before insurance covers damage from a named hurricane. It is separate from your policy’s flat deductible and is typically a percentage of your home’s value. Most insurers require hurricane deductibles for policies in hurricane-prone coastal areas.
Question: Can I buy flood insurance right before a hurricane hits?
No, you often cannot buy flood insurance right before a hurricane hits. The National Flood Insurance Program and many private insurers have waiting periods of at least 30 days after you buy a policy. Any damage caused by a storm during that period is not covered by insurance.
Review your insurance policies. See how USAA can help you stay prepared and protected.