--- title: "How to Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season: An Insurance Perspective" description: "Hurricane season starts June 1. Here's what to check on your insurance before the first storm forms — not after." date: 2026-04-27 lastmod: 2026-06-19 category: "Home" tags: ["hurricane season insurance", "prepare home hurricane insurance", "hurricane insurance Texas", "hurricane deductible", "storm insurance preparation"] canonical: https://www.truvo.com/blog/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-hurricane-season-an-insurance-perspective --- # How to Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season: An Insurance Perspective > Homeowners must review insurance coverage, purchase flood insurance, and document property before June 1, since insurers freeze new policies once a hurricane approaches. Key steps include verifying dwelling and deductible amounts, understanding that standard policies exclude flood damage, installing storm protections, and creating a home inventory. ## Check Your Insurance BEFORE Hurricane Season Once a named storm is approaching, most insurers freeze new policies and changes in the affected area. You can't buy flood insurance, increase coverage, or switch carriers with a hurricane in the forecast. Everything needs to be done before June 1 — or ideally, right now. ## Your Insurance Pre-Season Checklist ## 1. Review Your Homeowners Policy Pull out your declarations page and verify: - **Dwelling coverage**: Is it enough to rebuild at today's construction costs? - **Wind/hurricane deductible**: What percentage? Do the math on what you'd actually owe. - **Other structures**: Is your fence, shed, or detached garage adequately covered? - **Personal property**: Have you added significant items since last review? - **Loss of use**: Enough to cover months of temporary housing? ### 2. Understand Your Hurricane Deductible Most coastal and near-coastal policies have a separate hurricane deductible: - **Typically 2-5% of dwelling coverage** - A $400,000 home with 2% = **$8,000** deductible - With 5% = **$20,000** deductible This is separate from your standard deductible. Know the trigger — when does the hurricane deductible apply vs. your standard deductible? Most policies trigger the hurricane deductible when the National Weather Service declares a hurricane watch or warning. ### 3. Get Flood Insurance NOW **Standard home insurance does NOT cover flooding.** Storm surge, rising water, and heavy rainfall flooding require a separate flood policy. - **NFIP waiting period**: 30 days from purchase - **Some private flood insurers**: 10-14 day waiting periods - **If you wait until June**: You may not be covered until July - **If you wait for a named storm**: Too late ### 4. Review Your Auto Insurance Your car's flood damage is covered by **comprehensive** coverage: - If you've dropped comprehensive, reinstate it before hurricane season - If you have a car loan, your lender requires it anyway - If you park outside (no garage), comprehensive is especially important ### 5. Document Your Property Create or update a complete home inventory: - **Video walkthrough**: Every room, every closet, every drawer - **Photos of high-value items**: Electronics, appliances, furniture, art - **Store off-site**: Cloud storage, email to yourself, or a safe deposit box - **Keep receipts**: For major purchases ## Physical Preparation That Lowers Your Insurance Risk ### Roof Inspection and Maintenance Your roof is your first line of defense: - Have a professional inspect for loose shingles, damaged flashing, and weak points - Repair any issues before storm season - Consider impact-resistant shingles at your next replacement (insurance discount of 5-15%) ### Window and Door Protection - **Hurricane shutters or impact windows**: 10-15% insurance discount in many areas - **Plywood cut to fit**: If you can't afford shutters, have plywood pre-cut for every window and stored in your garage - **Reinforce garage door**: The most common failure point in a hurricane ### Yard Maintenance - **Trim trees**: Dead branches become missiles in high winds - **Secure outdoor furniture**: Bring in or tie down anything that can become airborne - **Clear gutters and drains**: Prevent water backup during heavy rainfall ### Emergency Supplies - Generator (don't run it indoors) - 7-day water supply - Non-perishable food - Medications (30-day supply) - Important documents in waterproof container - Cash (ATMs may not work) ## What to Do When a Storm Is Coming ### 48-72 Hours Before - Verify your insurance policies are current - Locate your policy documents and insurance company contact numbers - Charge all devices - Fill car with gas - Implement your window/door protection plan ### During the Storm - Stay inside, away from windows - Document any damage as it occurs (if safe to do so) - Don't attempt repairs during the storm ### After the Storm - Document ALL damage before cleanup (photos, video) - Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage (tarp roof, board windows) - Keep all receipts for emergency expenses - File your insurance claim immediately - Don't sign contracts with storm-chasing contractors without verifying credentials ## The 30-Day Flood Insurance Rule This bears repeating because it catches people every year: - NFIP flood insurance has a **30-day waiting period** - If you buy a policy on May 1, coverage starts June 1 - If you buy on June 15, coverage doesn't start until July 15 - A named storm in June with a July policy start = no coverage - **Buy NOW. Not next month. Now.** ## The Bottom Line Hurricane preparation from an insurance perspective is about three things: adequate coverage, proper documentation, and timing. Review your policies, buy flood insurance, understand your deductibles, and document your property — all before June 1. The time to prepare is when the forecast is calm, not when a storm is spinning in the Gulf.