Renters Insurance
Does Renters Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?
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Standard renters insurance policies include coverage for perils such as wind, hail, fire or falling objects associated with hurricanes. However, renters insurance does not cover flood damage from a hurricane.
Renters insurance covers hurricane damage under personal property coverage and loss of use coverage. This means you will be compensated for loss or damages to your personal property due to wind, hail or other non-flood-related damage during a hurricane. You will also be reimbursed for expenses incurred if your rental home is rendered uninhabitable by hurricane damage and you have to stay somewhere else.
Perils resulting from a hurricane such as wind, hail and fire are covered automatically in most renters insurance policies. However, it is important to note that water damage caused by flooding is not covered by most renters insurance policies but can be purchased as a separate policy.
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When Does Renters Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?
Renters insurance includes personal property coverage and loss of use coverage. You will be compensated if your personal belongings are damaged during a hurricane due to perils like wind or hail. However, renters insurance does not cover damages to the structure or building.
Lost or damaged personal belongings under your personal property coverage, such as your furniture and appliances.
High-value property such as jewelry or fine art under your scheduled personal property coverage.
Additional expenses incurred if your rental home is rendered uninhabitable by a hurricane under the loss of use coverage
Renters insurance covers hurricane-related perils such as wind and hail. For instance, if wind or hail breaks the window in your home, resulting in damaged furniture or appliances, your policy will reimburse for the loss of personal property. In cases of severe damage, your home may become uninhabitable, and you may need to make other living arrangements. In such cases, your renters policy will cover additional expenses incurred due to loss of use.
When Doesn’t Renters Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?
Renters insurance does not cover flood damage caused during a hurricane. If your personal property gets damaged by flood water during a hurricane, you will not be reimbursed. This is because flood damage is typically not included as a standard coverage in renters policy, but you can purchase it in a separate policy. Renters insurance will also not cover damages to the building or structure itself because it does not include dwelling coverage.
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How to Protect Yourself From Hurricane Damage
Because hurricanes are natural disasters, it’s important to be fully protected, especially if you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes. Renters insurance typically does not include coverage for hurricane-induced flood damage. You can protect yourself by buying a separate policy for flood damage. You can also get flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Minimize the impact on your home by taking safety measures
Taking precautions can help you minimize the risk of hurricane-induced damage. Measures like covering or bracing your windows and placing sandbags around your entryways may help prevent damage to your property during a hurricane.
Get flood insurance
Hurricanes often cause flooding, but your renters insurance does not include coverage for flood damage. You can purchase a separate policy from your insurer to cover flood damage to your personal property.
Cover your high-value property
If you have high-value property such as jewelry, furs or antiques, you can ensure they are covered by purchasing scheduled personal property coverage as an add-on to your renters insurance policy. This will ensure that if hurricane-induced perils like hail, wind or fire damage your valuables, you will be compensated for the loss.
Where to Buy Renters Insurance
Most major insurance companies such as State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate and Farmers offer renters insurance. You can also purchase renters insurance from smaller providers like Lemonade or Toggle. To get the best policy for your needs, you can compare renters insurance from different companies to get the best rates and coverage options.
On average, renters insurance costs $13 per month, but actual rates will depend on the value of your personal property. You can use MoneyGeek’s personal property calculator to find out the appropriate coverage level based on the value of your personal property.
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Renters Insurance
About Mark Fitzpatrick
sources
- iii.org. "Hurricane Insurance FAQ." Accessed May 15, 2022.
- Fema.gov. "National Flood Insurance Program." Accessed May 15, 2022.