Hurricane damage: wind, surge, rain and what each means for claims

What kinds of damage does a hurricane cause?

A hurricane damages a home in three main ways: wind, storm surge and rain. Each one leaves different marks, and each one can fall under a different insurance policy. The table below is the quick version.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) rates hurricanes only by wind speed on the Saffir-Simpson scale. NHC says hurricanes of all categories can produce deadly storm surge, rain-induced floods and tornadoes, so a Category 1 or 2 storm can still flood a house.

How does wind damage a house, and who pays?

Wind tears at the roof edges first, then lifts shingles and decking. NHC’s Saffir-Simpson scale says a Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds of 96 to 110 mph, can cause major roof and siding damage to well-constructed frame homes, snap or uproot many shallow-rooted trees, and knock out power for days to weeks.

Triple-I says property insurance covers damage from windstorms, such as hurricanes, to the home, attached structures and other structures, plus contents. In some coastal areas, wind is excluded from homeowners policies and sold separately. Florida DFS says state law requires residential policies to include windstorm coverage except in limited coastal areas, where Citizens Property Insurance is the fallback.

Wind claims usually carry a hurricane deductible. See the deductible section below. For the full claim process, see our guide to storm damage claims.

What is storm surge, and why doesn’t homeowners insurance cover it?

NHC defines storm surge as an abnormal rise in water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted tide. It is driven mainly by the storm’s onshore winds, and NHC calls it currently the leading cause of fatalities from hurricanes. Surge can travel up rivers and canals and reach well inland.

Even though wind pushes it ashore, surge is treated as flood. The standard HO-3 homeowners form excludes “flood, surface water, waves, tidal water, overflow of a body of water,” and spray from any of these, “whether or not driven by wind.” Triple-I puts it plainly: a standard homeowners, condo or renters policy does not cover flooding from a storm surge, and your flood policy does.

Florida DFS adds that most homeowners policies also exclude water that backs up from sewers, drains or sump pumps. That coverage, where available, comes from an endorsement. Our flood hub covers cleanup and claims after surge.

When is rain damage covered?

Rain is the hardest call. The sample HO-3 form says the windstorm peril does not cover rain damage to property inside a building unless the direct force of wind or hail damages the building, creating an opening in a roof or wall, and the rain enters through that opening. Your policy may use different words, so read yours.

In practice:

• Roof blown open, ceiling soaked below: generally a wind claim.
• Rain blew in under a door or through an intact window seal: often disputed.
• Rainwater pooled outside and flowed in at ground level: surface water, which is flood.

United Policyholders noted after Hurricane Milton in 2024 that wind-driven rain was a major source of disputes. A law professor it quoted warned that when a house is destroyed by flood and wind at the same time, private insurance generally does not cover it, which is why flood insurance matters. Photos of roof openings above wet ceilings and of water lines on walls help show the sequence.

How do hurricane deductibles work?

A hurricane deductible is usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage, not a flat amount. Triple-I says typical percentages run from 1% to 5% and gives this example: a home insured for $300,000 with a 5% deductible means you pay the first $15,000. Your declarations page shows the dollar amount.

Florida has specific rules. Under Florida Statutes 627.701, insurers must offer hurricane deductible options of $500, 2%, 5% and 10% of dwelling limits, and the deductible applies once per calendar year to covered hurricane losses. If a second hurricane hits the same year, the deductible is the greater of the remaining hurricane deductible or your regular deductible. Florida DFS says that credit applies only if you stay with the same insurer or insurer group. Under 627.4025, the hurricane period runs from when NHC issues a hurricane warning for any part of Florida until 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or warning ends. DFS adds that a separate roof deductible does not apply when the hurricane deductible applies.

Triple-I says to file a claim even if damage seems smaller than your deductible, because hidden damage can surface later and earlier storm damage may count toward the annual deductible.

How does flood insurance work after a hurricane?

Flood insurance comes from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer. FloodSmart lists NFIP limits for homeowners of up to $250,000 for the building and up to $100,000 for contents, with a $2,500 cap on valuables such as original art and furs. Contents coverage is purchased separately.

Timing matters. FloodSmart says coverage starts 30 days after purchase, with exceptions such as buying when you make, increase, extend or renew a mortgage. Florida DFS also says insurers will not take new applications or coverage increases once a tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning is issued for any area within Florida.

After a flood, FloodSmart’s checklist says report the claim right away, photograph damage from several angles, keep samples of flooring, carpet and blinds if you must throw them out, and submit documentation within 60 days unless your insurer sets a different timeframe. FEMA says NFIP claim payments do not require a presidential disaster declaration. Florida DFS notes NFIP policies do not cover additional living expenses.

Where does FEMA fit in?

FEMA Individual Assistance is for needs that insurance does not cover, and it requires a presidential major disaster declaration that includes your county. FEMA says it cannot provide assistance for losses covered by insurance, and that if you have insurance, you must file a claim with your insurance company. Expect to provide your insurer’s decision letter. Our FEMA assistance guide explains who qualifies and how to apply.

Florida claim deadlines and contractor rules

Under Florida Statutes 627.70132, notice of an initial or reopened property claim must be given within one year after the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. For hurricanes, the date of loss is the date the hurricane made landfall.

For policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, Florida Statutes 627.7152(13) says an attempt to assign post-loss property insurance benefits is “void, invalid, and unenforceable.” A contractor also cannot offer to waive your deductible in exchange for a roof claim. See storm chaser scams for how these schemes work.

These are general rules. For your claim, ask your insurer, the Florida Department of Financial Services Insurance Consumer Helpline (1-877-693-5236), a licensed public adjuster or an attorney.

Why the mold clock starts the day the storm passes

Water left in walls, floors and insulation grows mold fast. The Red Cross says to dry your home and everything in it within 24 to 48 hours if possible, and if you cannot, to assume you have mold growth. Start with our storm emergency steps, then follow our mold after a flood plan. For the latest Gulf Coast storm, see our Hurricane Isaias page. More guides are on the storm hub.