Local Insights7 min read

Florida Hurricane Season: Is Your Insurance Ready?

By Jarrod Currey|February 8, 2025

Key Takeaways

Florida’s hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity in August through October
Standard homeowners insurance covers wind and hurricane damage — but watch your hurricane deductible
Flood damage from storms is NOT covered by homeowners insurance, even during a hurricane
Review your policy before hurricane season starts, not after the damage is done

When Is Hurricane Season in Florida?

Florida’s hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity typically between August and October. But Mother Nature doesn’t always check the calendar — tropical systems can form outside that window. Florida is one of the most hurricane-prone states in the country (shocking, we know), and Central Florida isn’t immune just because we’re not on the coast. Hurricanes weaken as they move inland, but they still bring destructive winds, tornadoes, and massive flooding to areas like Lakeland, Orlando, and the I-4 corridor.

What Your Homeowners Policy Covers

The good news: standard homeowners insurance does cover hurricane and wind damage. If a hurricane tears off your roof, sends a tree through your living room, or destroys your garage, your dwelling coverage should kick in. Your personal property coverage would also apply to belongings damaged or destroyed inside the home. And if you can’t live in the house while it’s being repaired, your additional living expenses (ALE) coverage helps with temporary housing costs. The key word here is “wind.” If the damage is caused by wind, it’s generally covered. But there’s a catch (there’s always a catch).

The Hurricane Deductible Trap

Here’s where a lot of Florida homeowners get caught off guard. Most policies in our state have a separate hurricane deductible that’s significantly higher than your regular deductible — and it’s typically a percentage of your home’s insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. So if your home is insured for $400,000 and you have a 2% hurricane deductible, you’d be responsible for the first $8,000 of any hurricane damage. That’s a big number, and it surprises a lot of people the first time they file a claim. Some carriers, including our preferred carrier, may offer policies with lower hurricane deductibles (like $2,500 or $5,000), which can be more predictable but come with higher premiums. This is one of the first things we check when reviewing a policy — we’ll walk you through the options your carrier offers so you can make an informed choice. Knowledge is power — especially when that power is measured in thousands of dollars.

What’s NOT Covered: Flood Damage

This is the biggest gap people miss. If a hurricane brings storm surge or heavy rain and your home floods, the flood damage is not covered by your homeowners policy. It doesn’t matter that it happened during a hurricane — rising water is flood damage, and flood damage requires a separate flood insurance policy. This is critically important in Florida. Even homes outside designated flood zones can flood — in fact, about 25% of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk flood zones. And with Florida’s flat terrain and high water tables, flooding can happen almost anywhere after a major storm. You can check your flood zone status at msc.fema.gov. If you’re struggling to find homeowners coverage in the private market — especially in high-risk areas — Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Florida’s state-backed insurer of last resort and may be worth exploring. If you don’t have flood insurance, let’s talk — especially before hurricane season. There’s typically a 30-day waiting period for new flood policies, so procrastination is not your friend here.

How to Prepare Before Hurricane Season

The best time to think about hurricane insurance is before hurricane season starts. Here’s what we suggest: review your homeowners policy, specifically your dwelling coverage limit, your hurricane deductible, and whether you have replacement cost or actual cash value coverage. Preferred carrier policyholders should review their wind coverage and deductible options — there may be adjustments worth considering as hurricane season approaches. Get a wind mitigation inspection — Florida offers significant premium credits for homes with hurricane-resistant features like impact windows, hip roofs, and secondary water resistance. Consider flood insurance if you don’t already have it — remember that 30-day waiting period. Document your home and belongings by walking through your house with your phone and recording video of every room, your roof, and your major possessions. Store this somewhere cloud-based that you can access even if your phone takes a swim. Check that your coverage limits reflect current rebuilding costs — construction costs have gone up significantly in recent years.

We’re Here When It Matters Most

When a storm hits, things move fast. Insurance questions shouldn’t add to the stress. If you’re our client and you’ve had storm damage, call us. With Jarrod’s 17 years of claims experience, we know how to navigate the process efficiently — whether you’re with our preferred carrier, Citizens, or another carrier. We’ll walk you through the claim process, help ensure your coverage is applied correctly, and push back on your behalf if something isn’t right. If you’re not our client but you’re not sure whether your current coverage is ready for hurricane season, we’re happy to take a look. No pressure, no obligation — just an honest review. Because the time to figure this out is now, not when you’re filling sandbags.