Protect Your Home with Hurricane Insurance
Hurricanes are one of the most destructive storms that occur. If you live in a region that routinely faces the threat of hurricanes, you know how scary they can be. There are steps you can take to help protect your home from an impending storm. But, when damages do occur, having hurricane insurance is the next best protection.
For peace of mind, preparation is the key. Having the right protection before and after the storm hits can mean big savings later. Some wind damage may be covered by standard homeowners insurance, but more often than not, you will need separate hurricane insurance. Before looking at that, let’s take a look at a few of the home protection measures you can take.
Top Measures to Secure Your Property before a Hurricane
When the threat of a storm arises, there are things you can do to help secure your home that can help minimize the damage, including:
- Protect all windows. This is the single most protective action you can take. Permanent hurricane shutters offer the best protection, although boarding up windows with plywood is a next best option.
- Strengthen doors. If you’re not sure that your doors can withstand the winds, it’s a good thing to add some extra protection. Check your bolt installation and make sure that your doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt. Head and foot bolts can be used to add protection on inactive doors.
- Secure the roof. Check that all shingles and other roof covering are securely fastened. If not, nail them in to prevent them from ripping off. You also can use straps or clips to fasten your roof to the top of the wall on the frame structure.
- Brace the garage door. Keeping your garage reinforced helps maintain the structure and can prevent your roof from flying off. Many home improvement stores sell reinforcement kits for garage doors.
- Clean up trees and shrubs. Make sure all your trees and shrubs are well trimmed. Remove all dead branches to minimize falling and flying debris.
What’s Next?
Now that you have reinforced your home, it’s time to make sure other protection is in place. One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from hurricane damage is to know your homeowners insurance policy. Read the fine print to determine what is covered and what is not.
Although some homeowners insurance policies may cover damage by hurricanes, more and more carriers are excluding it. The policies that cover hurricanes typically only cover wind and wind-driven rain. If waters rise, creating damage due to flood, your homeowners insurance won’t cover the damage. For these claims, you’ll need flood insurance available through the National Flood Insurance Program.
Make Sure You’re Covered
If your property is often threatened by hurricanes, buying supplemental hurricane insurance can protect you. The amount you’ll pay for a hurricane insurance policy varies greatly depending on your location and your risk.
The Andrew Agency Is Here for You
As your independent insurance agent, we can help you answer the tough questions about hurricane insurance. We will gladly review your homeowners insurance policy to see what damage, if any, is covered. Once we know this, we can help you determine what additional steps you need to take to protect your home from future hurricanes.
Call us today for a no-obligation review and your hurricane insurance before the next big storm hits. Call Ryan Andrew at (804) 320-2886.
