Coastal insurance is often a coverage puzzle
A coastal home may need several policies or coverage parts to address wind, flood, dwelling, contents, liability, and other risks. The homeowners policy, wind policy, flood policy, and any excess or companion coverage should be reviewed together.
What underwriters may consider
- Distance to the coast or tidal water
- Elevation and flood zone
- Wind speed and storm-surge exposure
- Roof age, shape, covering, attachment, and condition
- Openings, shutters, impact protection, and garage doors
- Construction type and year built
- Prior wind, water, and flood losses
- Availability of local private and residual-market options
Deductibles can be different
Coastal policies may use percentage deductibles for hurricane, named-storm, or wind losses. A percentage deductible is usually calculated from an insured value, not from the size of the claim. Read the trigger language and calculate the approximate dollar amount before a storm.
Flood is separate
Standard homeowners insurance generally does not provide the same protection as a separate flood policy for rising surface water. Flood waiting periods, building and contents limits, exclusions, and loss-settlement terms deserve an independent review.
Questions to ask
- Is wind included, excluded, or written under another policy?
- Which storm deductible applies, and what triggers it?
- Is replacement cost available for the dwelling and contents?
- Are ordinance or law and water backup included?
- Does the flood policy cover both building and contents?
- Are there inspection, shutter, roof, or occupancy requirements?
- Do all policies use compatible effective dates and insured values?
Prepare before storm season
Keep a home inventory, photograph improvements, retain roof and mitigation documents, test shutters, understand the claim contacts for each policy, and store copies of coverage documents outside the home.