The Complete Florida Resident’s Guide To Hurricane Insurance

You’ve finally done it… you purchased your dream home on one of the most beautiful places on all of God’s creation: Florida. This state is home to pristine beaches, beautiful year-round weather, and eye-catching greenery everywhere you turn. It truly is one of a kind, and you’re now a homeowner in it… lucky you! However, not even paradise comes without its cautions. Being in a peninsula, every Florida owner should invest in hurricane insurance regardless of where you live. You always think it can’t happen to you until it does. Here is your complete guide to hurricane insurance as a Florida resident.  

There’s Insurance for any Living Situation

  Many people reading this may think Well, I’m not a homeowner yet so this article doesn’t apply to me… Wrong! There’s hurricane insurance for any situation, whether you’re renting a home or buying a home, you can be covered. You can also be specified by the type of home that you own or rent. Categories such as renter’s insurance, condo insurance, mobile home insurance, and homeowner’s insurance help target your overall needs. For example, homeowner’s insurance will be geared towards protecting not only your belongings but the structural integrity of the house itself. Whereas renter’s insurance is simply focused on covering all of your belongings that become damaged during the hurricane. The property itself is up to your landlord, not you. Hurricane insurance is included in any of these home policies in the state of Florida, pick the one that fits your situation and stay protected during a crisis.    

Safety During an Emergency

Depending on how seriously your location gets hit with the hurricane, you may find that your home, neighborhood, and city unsafe to stay in. When that happens, you’ll need to make temporary living arrangements until your home can be fixed. Many people don’t have enough saved up to pay for that unforeseen expense out of pocket. Hurricane insurance helps you cover those expenses by way of reimbursing you for all the emergency costs. That way you and your family can find safe shelter, whatever that may look like, as you await the day you can return home. Depending on your provider, you may find that they’ll try to be a bit stingy with how much/little coverage they payout for you. That’s why it’s crucial to team up with a trusted public adjuster to set yourself up with the highest possible settlement. You’re the one that is going through the tragedy, you should be compensated for it.     You may find yourself overwhelmed by the number of insurance policies you need to invest in as a Florida homeowner. Fear not, most of them are included within each other. Flood insurance differs from home insurance, but it still covers hurricanes if they’re the cause of the flood itself. Basically, flood insurance covers any instance in which your property and/or belongings are damaged by rising water where there’s usually dry land. Flood damage is one of the most costly incidents that can happen to your home. It can cost a minimum of $7,800 for only 1-4 inches of water. That means you’re forced to pay it out of pocket without flood insurance on your side. Fortunately, some homeowners are required to have flood insurance. There are several factors that indicate whether you fall in that umbrella, the big indication is your flood zone, read more about that below…    

Know Your Flood Zones

Whether you realized it or not, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mapped out flood zones all across the nation. The state of Florida especially abides by this, being almost completely surrounded by water, and uses it to determine if you’re more or less susceptible to floods. The mapping programs are relatively easy to understand, their risk factors are associated and labeled with a letter. FEMA undergoes an exhaustive process every few years with all local counties to provide any changes and reinforced data that support each flood zone category. So if your zone is labeled “AE” or high risk, there’s significant evidence to back it up. Living in a high-risk zone shouldn’t keep you up at night. You just need to make sure your belongings and future are protected in the event of an emergency. Hurricanes are a part of life down in Florida. If you live in the state long enough, you’re certain to undergo an evacuation or two; it’s just a means of safety!    

Learn All That You Can

Whether you’ve lived in Florida your entire life or are just now becoming a full-time resident, it benefits you to know all you can about hurricane emergencies. Read up on a successful evacuation process and what you can do to best prepare yourself when that day comes. There are things you can be doing now to protect your family later. Things like having an emergency kit and evacuation plan will come in handy during that time. If you’ve set yourself up with hurricane insurance, it’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about. Now it’s time to focus on being as prepared as possible to temporarily move you and your family if one were to hit your town.    

Hurricane Insurance Doesn’t Have to Be a Headache

You’ve already got enough on your plate when a natural disaster happens, don’t let hurricane insurance be another thing to worry about. There are claim consultants out there with experience in helping people like you get the most return possible for their settlements. Be sure to read up on how Let Us Claim can help you maximize your insurance company’s payout after there’s been damage to your home. For more inquiries, please reach out via our contact us page and we’ll be happy to speak with you further.