This week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is celebrating Hurricane Preparedness Week. The NOAA is the preeminent government agency that we have in our country to monitor hurricanes and help prepare our citizens from major storms. Hurricane Preparedness Week is designed to give homeowners valuable information to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. The timing of the event is significant. It runs from May 1 through May 7. The start of May means that we are one month away from the official start of the 2022 hurricane season. However, hurricanes have been forming earlier so frequently that they’re considering moving the start of hurricane season to May 15. Basically, time is running out for homeowners to prepare for hurricane claims. The team at Streamline Insurance is here to tell you what to expect from Hurricane Preparedness Week and what it means for homeowners insurance. 

Hurricane Preparedness Week is Happening Now

Hurricane Preparedness Week is running right now through March 7th. Each day is dedicated to a different theme and the NOAA uses that theme as an opportunity to provide helpful information. The educational resources provided include the following topics:

Determine Your Risk – Hurricane Preparedness

Strengthen Your Home – Hurricane Preparedness

Help Your Neighbor – Hurricane Preparedness

Develop a Plan – Hurricane Preparedness

Assemble Disaster Supplies – Hurricane Preparedness

Complete a Written Plan – Hurricane Preparedness

Get an Insurance Checkup – Hurricane Preparedness

Homeowners Insurance and Hurricane Preparedness

The NOAA makes it clear that an important component of hurricane preparedness is making sure your homeowners insurance is ready for a hurricane claim. In fact, all of today is devoted to making sure your insurance policies are ready to go in the event of a hurricane. Insurance is designed to make you whole after a loss, whether it is for minor damage or a total loss claim. However, your insurance company is only responsible for replacing or repairing what is stipulated in your insurance policy. Before a hurricane is on the way, it is important to make sure your insurance coverage is complete and anything you want covered is covered. 

One of the biggest things you can look for prior to hurricane season is to make sure all of your additional structures are covered. During Hurricane Sally, some homeowners were upset to find detached garages, sheds, and fences were not covered under their standard homeowners policy. As a result, many homeowners faced significant losses that were never compensated. However, you can make sure this does not happen to you by making sure any additonoal structures on your property are included in your coverage. 

Another way homeowners can make sure they are covered for hurricane season is by making sure they get flood insurance. Flood insurance does not come standard as part of your homeowners insurance policy. You need to purchase a separate flood policy. Your homeowners policy does cover water damage from hurricanes, however, there are limitations. For instance, water damage from storm surge is considered damage that would be covered under flood insurance and not your home insurance. This is important for homeowners to be aware of going into hurricane season. Increasingly, storm surge is becoming one of the major sources of hurricane claims from hurricanes and tropical storms. Making sure you have house insurance and flood insurance will go a long way toward giving you the protection you need. 

Final Thoughts

We are about a week away from the unofficial start of the hurricane season and less than a month away from the official start. The time to get ready and prepare for hurricane season is running out. Thankfully, the team at NOAA has provided some tremendous resources for all of us during Hurricane Preparedness Week. While taking advantage of the resources regarding Getting an Insurance Checkup are helpful, please checkout their resources on evacuations and supplies. Nobody wants to lose their home in a hurricane. However, if you do, that is why you have insurance. Having a homeowners policy with a trusted carrier can protect your property in even the worst of storms. What is important to keep in mind is that your home can always be rebuilt, but you and your loved ones cannot. Never understimate hurricanes and tropical storms. Remember that your paramount concern should always be safety. 

If you want some extra help making sure your homeowners insurance is ready for hurricane season, or your business insurance for that matter, contact us. The team at Streamline Insurance offers complimentary insruance reviews. We can walk through your existing coverage and identify any gaps or opporutnities to better protect yourself from a hurricane claim. Or, if you are looking for a new homeowners policy, you can always get a quote. The bottom line is that there is no reason for your insurance to be unprepared for hurricane season when you have professionals who can help.