Own a home in Boca? You’ve probably asked this while watching a storm cone on TV. Here’s the honest version from our team at Uncle Sheldon Insurance, where as brokers we spend a lot of time explaining exactly this split.
Your homeowners policy generally covers the wind part of a hurricane. It generally doesn’t cover the water part, meaning storm surge and rising floodwater, even when both come from the same storm on the same afternoon.
| Damage | Usually covered by homeowners? |
|---|---|
| Roof torn up by wind | Yes, after your hurricane deductible |
| Rain blown in through wind damage | Usually yes |
| Storm surge pushing into the house | No, that’s flood |
| Rising water from heavy rain | No, that’s flood too |
| Tree down on the house | Usually yes |
Then there’s the hurricane deductible. Florida policies carry a separate one, usually a slice of your dwelling coverage. Two percent is common, and 5% or 10% options can lower your premium. On a home insured for $600,000, 2% means the first $12,000 of hurricane damage is yours. We always make sure clients know that number before hurricane season, not during it.
Florida does have one friendly rule here. The hurricane deductible applies once per calendar year, not once per storm. If an early storm uses up your hurricane deductible, a second one later that season generally drops back to your regular deductible with the same insurer.
The flood gap is the one to close. Since flood is excluded, a separate flood policy is what handles surge and rising water, whether you’re on the barrier island or inland near the canals. Flood policies through the federal program generally make you wait before coverage starts, so buying one when the storm is already named is too late, which is one reason our hurricane season checklist for Boca starts in spring.
Hurricanes aren’t the only thing that changes when a home starts earning money. If you rent your place out during season, short-term rental coverage in Florida works differently too. Want a broker to look over your policy before the next storm? That’s what we’re here for. We shop multiple carriers and help you find the gaps.