Shannon Martin is a licensed insurance agent and Bankrate analyst with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She enjoys helping others navigate the insurance world by cutting through complex jargon and empowering readers to make strong financial decisions independently.
Cate Deventer
Cate Deventer is a writer, editor and insurance professional with over a decade of experience in the insurance industry as a licensed insurance agent.
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Jessa Claeys
Jessa Claeys is an insurance editor for Bankrate with over a decade of experience writing, editing and leading teams of content creators. She currently covers auto, home and life insurance with the goal of helping others secure a healthy financial future. Her work has been published by several insurance, personal finance and investment-focused publications, including Jerry, BiggerPockets, 401(k) Specialist, BP Wealth and more.
Edited by
Jessa Claeys
Jessa Claeys is an insurance editor for Bankrate with over a decade of experience writing, editing and leading teams of content creators. She currently covers auto, home and life insurance with the goal of helping others secure a healthy financial future. Her work has been published by several insurance, personal finance and investment-focused publications, including Jerry, BiggerPockets, 401(k) Specialist, BP Wealth and more.
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What is windstorm insurance? How to purchase windstorm insurance When to buy windstorm insurance How much does windstorm insurance cost? How to file windstorm insurance claims Frequently asked questions
Wind damage is covered by most home insurance policies. However, in some hurricane-prone states and counties, wind is an excluded peril — meaning it won't be covered by home insurance. Depending on where you live, you may need an endorsement or a separate windstorm insurance policy.
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On This Page Jump toWindstorm insurance pays for damage to your home caused by high winds, which frequently damage roofs, siding, soffits and gutters. Many homeowners insurance companies and policies cover wind damage automatically.
While home policies may include some level of coverage for wind damage, you may need a separate policy for certain windstorm events if you live in a high-risk area. Homeowners in coastal states and areas prone to hurricanes, as well as homeowners in areas prone to tornadoes and strong thunderstorms, may want to consider confirming how wind damage is covered on their homeowners insurance policies.
Additionally, some policies include a “named storm” deductible. This means that general wind damage could be covered with a traditional flat deductible (such as $1,000), but if a storm has been given a name — as is common with hurricanes and tropical storms — the deductible is typically a percentage of the total dwelling coverage amount (such as 2 percent). If your policy has a named storm deductible, you will want to understand how the percentage-based deductible will impact your budget in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm.
Currently, there are 18 states that permit home insurance companies to add hurricane deductibles, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I):
If you already have a homeowners insurance policy, talking to your agent can help you determine how wind damage is covered on your policy.
The options to buy windstorm insurance vary from state to state. For example, in Florida, with its high hurricane risk, you can purchase windstorm insurance from the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. In Texas, where wind damage can be caused by hurricanes or tornadoes, depending on where in the state you live, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) is a source for windstorm coverage.
There are certain restrictions that many carriers impose that limit the timing for buying windstorm insurance. Many insurers impose “insurance moratoriums” 24 to 48 hours before a major hurricane or another significant weather event occurs. These moratoriums prevent the company from selling new policies in the designated area during the specified timeframe. The purpose is to prevent people from simply buying this insurance immediately before a disaster and canceling once the storm passes. Having windstorm insurance in place prior to an imminent weather event may be the safest option.
Often, wind insurance costs will depend on the price you are paying for homeowners insurance. The national average premium for home insurance is $2,150 per year for a policy with dwelling coverage of $300,000. Windstorm coverage on an existing homeowners policy will sometimes have a separate deductible that is higher than your underlying homeowners policy deductible if the storm is a named storm (e.g., a hurricane or tropical storm).
If you live in a high-risk area where you need to purchase a separate windstorm endorsement or policy, you will likely be charged an additional amount on top of your home insurance premium. For a separate policy, costs will depend on a number of factors like the age of your home, your home’s rebuilding cost, the likelihood of damage in your area and if you have taken any damage-mitigating measures like installing hurricane shutters.
Windstorm insurance can be expensive, particularly if you live in an area that is prone to catastrophic weather events. In the states where these events are a threat, rates for wind insurance can vary from county to county depending upon each area’s history of storm damage. Homes on the coast will generally be more expensive to insure than those built in areas inland. It is important to review all your options with your agent and seek out quotes from several companies to compare coverage and prices.
The damage that windstorms cause can be devastating. Approximately one out of every 35 homeowners will make a wind- or hail-related insurance claim each year according to Triple-I. If your home has been damaged by a windstorm, you may choose to file a homeowners insurance claim to help pay for the cost of repairs. Here is a snapshot of how to make a successful claim:
Having a damaged home is stressful, but your homeowners insurance is designed to help cover its restoration to the state it was in prior to the damage.
In most cases, homeowners insurance will automatically cover wind damage. However, if you live in a high-risk area like a coastal region, you may need to purchase a separate policy. Even if your home insurance policy covers wind damage automatically, there could be a separate, higher “named storm” deductible, though. Talking to your insurance company to understand how and to what extent your homeowners insurance covers damage may be a good idea.
The best way to avoid potential windstorm damage is to mitigate your risk of damage through basic home maintenance and reducing additional hazards. Keeping your trees trimmed back so that they do not overhang your roof and clearing dead or dying trees from your property can help reduce the chance of a windstorm causing a tree to fall through your roof, which is a very common windstorm claim. Installing storm shutters and hurricane clips are mitigation measures that can reduce the likelihood of a large claim and may make your home eligible for a wind mitigation discount. Keep in mind that high winds can turn anything into a projectile, so it helps to store or secure lawn furniture, garden tools and other unattached outdoor items.
No state in the U.S. is completely free from the risk of wind damage. However, coastal states are more likely to experience hurricanes and tropical storms that come with devastating winds, and states in the Midwest and Southeast are also some of the riskiest areas for tornado damage. Wind damage doesn’t always happen from specific storms, though. High winds can happen in any state and in any season, so understanding how your insurance would respond is important for your financial protection.
Some insurance companies offer a windstorm insurance mitigation inspection discount. A wind mitigation inspection is also often referred to as Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection. During a windstorm mitigation inspection, a certified inspector assesses your home to determine features that would reduce the likelihood of damage in a severe windstorm or hurricane. Inspection points center around your home’s construction, such as your roof’s age and design type, the materials used to build your home’s structure and the presence of damage-resistant features like storm-proof garage doors. Having an inspection may equate to substantial savings on your policy, as it can show insurers if your home is significantly less likely to experience property damage from a windstorm event. This may lower your risk of filing a claim, bringing your insurance costs down.
