Brace for the Storm: Comprehensive Windstorm and Hail Insurance

For homeowners in high-risk areas, a standard policy may not cover wind damage from hurricanes, tropical storms, or tornadoes. Secure the specialized protection you need against nature's most destructive forces.

When Standard Homeowners Policies Exclude the Wind

If you live in a coastal county or a region prone to severe cyclonic storms, your primary homeowners insurance often contains a crucial exclusion: damage caused by wind and hail. This exclusion means that if a hurricane or tornado damages your home, you have no coverage for repairs to your roof, windows, or structure.

  • The Necessity: In these high-risk zones, windstorm insurance must be purchased as a separate, stand-alone policy or a specific endorsement to fill this gap.

  • Mortgage Requirement: If you have a mortgage on a home in a designated high-risk area, your lender will almost certainly require you to carry a specific level of windstorm coverage.

Protecting Your Structure from Gusts and Hail

Windstorm insurance covers direct physical loss to your property caused by wind, hail, or wind-driven rain after the storm breaches the structure:

  • Dwelling (Structure) Repairs or rebuilding of the main structure, including the roof, exterior walls, windows, and foundation due to wind or hail damage.

  • Other Structures Damage to detached structures on your property, such as sheds, fences, garages, and carports.

  • Personal Property Replacement or repair of furniture, electronics, and belongings inside the home if damaged by wind or hail, or by rain that enters through a wind-damaged opening.

  • Loss of Use (ALE) Pays for temporary living expenses (hotel, food, laundry) if windstorm damage makes your home uninhabitable during repairs.

Understanding Your Windstorm Deductible and Exclusions

Windstorm policies operate differently from standard policies, particularly concerning deductibles and exclusions.

  • Percentage Deductibles: Windstorm and named-storm deductibles are often percentage-based (e.g., 1%, 2%, or 5%) of your dwelling coverage limit, not a flat dollar amount. For example, a 2% deductible on a $300,000 home means you pay the first $6,000.

  • The Flood Exclusion: Windstorm insurance DOES NOT cover damage caused by rising water, storm surge, or flooding, even if the storm caused the flood. If you live near the coast, you must purchase a separate Flood Insurance policy (typically through the NFIP) for comprehensive protection.

  • Coverage Activation: Most carriers enforce a waiting period, meaning you generally cannot purchase or increase windstorm coverage once a storm is named and poses an imminent threat to the area.

Don't Wait for the Next Storm. Protect Your Home Now.

High winds can strike suddenly. Review your current policy for wind and hail exclusions and ensure your most valuable asset is fully protected before hurricane season begins. Contact a JC Insurance Collective specialist today.