Be Hurricane Ready

One of the only downsides of living in Florida is dealing with the tropical storms and hurricanes that can hit during certain months of the year. Whether you live on the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf Coast or Central Florida, you may experience heavy storms that could potentially damage your home. Therefore, it’s important to do a bit of hurricane preparation before the season begins, which includes ensuring that your Florida home insurance covers you in the event of a destructive storm.

When is Hurricane Season in Florida?

Hurricane season in Florida starts on June 1st and runs through to November 30th, with off-season storms occurring earlier or later. During this time storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, many of which make landfall in Florida. August and September are the most active months for hurricanes in Florida, although you can experience storms any time during hurricane season.

How to Prepare for Hurricane Season

Hurricanes can come on quickly with little warning, so it is important to do some hurricane preparation before the season starts and prior to a storm making landfall. These are a few things you can do to protect your home and family.

• Sign up for local notification services that report storm alerts

• Have an emergency kit ready with necessities like enough water and perishable food for a few days, first-aid items and sanitation supplies

• Invest in a battery-powered radio and a good flashlight

• Trim tree branches that could break off and damage the home

• Place important documents in a waterproof container

• Stock up on cash in case of power outages at ATMs

• Cover windows with hurricane shutters or wood

• Bring in outdoor furniture or secure it with ropes or tarps

Review Your Florida Home Insurance Policy

Many people assume that their home insurance will cover them in the event of a hurricane, but not all policies are the same. If you own a home in Florida, it’s in your best interest to thoroughly review your homeowners or renters policy to ensure you’re not left in the cold after a storm. Sihle Insurance Group recommends looking at these three main areas:

Ensure you have adequate coverage for your home’s structure

Standard homeowners insurance will cover the structure of your home, but there are many factors that can affect your payout after a hurricane. These include hurricane and windstorm deductibles, which may be quite high, requiring you to pay more out of pocket for any repairs or rebuilding. In addition, flooding is often excluded, so you may need to purchase separate flood insurance.

Ensure you have adequate coverage for your possessions

Damages from a hurricane can extend to the possessions inside your home including furniture, clothing and personal items. Sihle Insurance Group suggests taking a full inventory of the items in your home and estimating a total value so that you know how much coverage you need to replace those items after a hurricane. This can also help expedite an insurance claim and give you proof of your losses.

Ensure you have adequate coverage for additional living expenses

In the event that your home is inhabitable after a hurricane, the Additional Living Expenses (ALE) policy will help to cover extra expenses you incur for hotel bills, food and other living costs. It can also cover the loss of rental income while your house is being rebuilt or repaired. Be sure to check your policy to see what your ALE coverage is and if there are any stipulations such as time limits.

Do you have questions about your Florida real estate? We can advise you on buying, selling, renting and managing properties statewide. Contact us online or call our Central Florida office at 407-656-7814 or our South Florida office at 954-760-5885 to speak with one of our Florida real estate experts today!