Step 1
Calculate your actual hurricane deductible amount
Take your Coverage A (dwelling) amount and multiply by your deductible percentage. A $500K home at 2% = $10,000 out of pocket.
Insurance Claims Guide
Hurricane Deductibles Explained: What Florida Homeowners Must Know
Hurricane deductibles are percentage-based — not flat dollar amounts. For many Florida homeowners, this means paying thousands or tens of thousands out of pocket before insurance pays anything. Understanding how they work prevents shock after a storm.
- Percentage-Based
- Per Season
- Named Storms Only
- FL vs NC
Key Steps
What you need to know
Step 2
Hurricane deductibles apply per SEASON, not per storm
If two hurricanes hit in one season, you only pay the deductible once. After it's met, subsequent hurricane damage uses your standard deductible.
Step 3
They only apply to named hurricanes
The deductible triggers only when a named hurricane causes damage during the hurricane event timeline. Wind from a tropical storm or severe thunderstorm uses your regular deductible.
Step 4
Some damage may fall below your deductible
If a hurricane causes $5,000 in damage but your hurricane deductible is $8,000, you receive $0 from insurance. This catches many homeowners off guard.
Key Takeaways
Hurricane deductibles are 2%, 5%, or 10% of your dwelling coverage amount
They apply per hurricane season, not per storm event
They trigger only for damage from named hurricanes, not tropical storms or thunderstorms
If damage is below your hurricane deductible, insurance pays nothing for that event
FL law allows choosing your percentage when purchasing — lower percentage means higher premium
NC coastal policies may have similar wind/hail percentage deductibles
Visual Reference
Insurance and restoration in practice
Real-world examples of the documentation, coordination, and processes involved in insurance claims.
Hurricane Aftermath
Blue tarps on roofs across Florida neighborhoods show the scale of hurricane deductible impact.
Understanding Your Exposure
Calculate your hurricane deductible in dollars before storm season arrives.
Step-by-Step
How the process works
Understanding each step gives you leverage and helps prevent common problems.
1
Find your deductible percentage
Check your declarations page. Look for "Hurricane Deductible" — it will show a percentage (2%, 5%, or 10%).
2
Calculate the dollar amount
Multiply your Coverage A amount by the percentage. That's your out-of-pocket responsibility per hurricane season.
3
After a hurricane, assess whether to file
If estimated damage is close to or below your deductible, it may not be worth filing. If clearly above, file immediately.
4
Understand interaction with flood insurance
Hurricane damage often involves both wind (homeowners) and flood (flood policy) — each has its own deductible.
State-specific notes
South Florida
Most FL policies have 2% hurricane deductibles. On a $600K home, that's $12,000 out of pocket. Some areas or older policies may have 5% or even 10%.
Coastal NC
NC coastal counties often have wind/hail percentage deductibles. These function similarly to FL hurricane deductibles but may trigger on any windstorm, not just hurricanes.
Coastal SC
SC uses the SC Wind and Hail Underwriting Association for coastal wind coverage. Deductibles vary. Check your specific policy terms.
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