What Is Windstorm Insurance, and Who Needs It?

Windstorm insurance is a special type of insurance policy that covers damage caused by high winds, such as from hurricanes and tornadoes. A standard homeowners insurance policy covers wind damage in many cases.

But depending on where you live and your specific policy terms, your policy may exclude damage from wind or require a higher deductible than you feel comfortable with.

Insurance companies have higher deductibles for hurricane losses in 19 states and Washington, D.C., according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). This includes Hawaii, Texas, and most of the coastal states on the Eastern Seaboard.^[1]

Here’s what you need to know about finding the right insurance products and riders to protect your home.

Do you need windstorm insurance?

If you live in a coastal community or an area prone to tornadoes, hurricanes, or tropical storms, you should consider windstorm insurance — especially if your homeowners insurance policy excludes this coverage or requires a high deductible.

The following states tend to have higher deductibles or limited coverage for hurricanes and windstorms:

• Alabama

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Florida

• Georgia

• Hawaii

• Louisiana

• Maine

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Mississippi

• New Jersey

• New York

• North Carolina

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• South Carolina

• Texas

• Virginia

• Washington, D.C.

In these areas and others prone to windstorms, hurricane-force winds can destroy your home. The National Hurricane Center defines hurricane-force winds as wind gusts of 74 miles per hour or more. The damage comes from the wind and debris that can hit your home, shatter windows, and cause other damage.^[3]

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What windstorm insurance covers

While exact coverages might vary by policy, windstorm insurance typically covers the following:

• 

  Your home

  Repairs for property damage to the roof, walls, windows, doors, and other structural components caused by high wind events

• 

  External structures

  Damage to your property’s fences, sheds, and other external structures

• 

  Personal property

  Replacement of personal belongings damaged by wind-driven rain entering through damaged areas

• 

  Debris removal

  The cost of removing debris from your property after windstorm events^[4]

What windstorm insurance doesn’t cover

Windstorm insurance typically doesn’t cover the following:

• Flood damage: You need a separate flood insurance policy to get coverage for water damage caused by rising waters or storm surges.

• Damage to your vehicle: Windstorm insurance doesn’t cover damage to your car — like a tree falling on it during a windstorm. The comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy covers this type of damage.

Where to get windstorm insurance

Standard homeowners insurance policies cover wind damage. But if your current policy excludes windstorm or hurricane coverage or doesn’t provide the necessary coverage, you have a few options.

Some insurance companies, including USAA and GeoVera Specialty Insurance Company, offer stand-alone windstorm insurance policies.

If this isn’t an option, your state may have a state-sponsored insurance pool to provide coverage for homes in areas prone to windstorms. The Triple-I maintains a list of state-specific windstorm programs with links to each plan’s website.^[1]

How much windstorm coverage do you need?

An insurance agent or licensed insurance provider can help you determine how much windstorm coverage you need. You should consider the cost of rebuilding your home — including materials and labor — and the value of your personal belongings and any external structures on your property.

If you speak with an insurance agent for help, they’ll also assess your area’s risk level and the severity of potential windstorms in your location.

Windstorm insurance cost

The cost of windstorm insurance varies depending on location, home value, construction type, and whether you can get insurance through a private insurance company or a state-sponsored plan.

State-sponsored programs tend to cost more than private insurance companies. A state plan is an insurer of last resort for people who can’t get insurance coverage in the traditional marketplace, so you likely won’t find competitive pricing.

For example, the national average cost of a standard homeowners insurance policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible is $2,377, according to Insurify data. Meanwhile, a wind and hail coverage policy through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) costs an average of $2,300.^[5]

Windstorm insurance deductibles

Home insurance policies in high-risk areas often have a separate deductible for windstorm damage claims. These deductibles are typically a percentage of the home’s insured value rather than a fixed dollar amount.

These deductibles typically range from 1%–10% of the home’s value.^[2]

For example, your home insurance policy might have a $500 flat deductible amount and a 5% deductible for windstorm claims. So, if you have $300,000 in dwelling coverage for your home, you must pay the first $15,000 of a windstorm claim out of pocket.

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Protecting your home from wind damage

Here are several different ways to protect your home from wind damage:

• Install storm shutters. Adding storm shutters to windows and glass doors can protect against physical damage from flying debris and high winds.

• Secure the roof. Use hurricane straps to keep the roof firmly attached to the walls during a hurricane. Inspect your roof regularly, and secure any loose shingles or tiles.

• Reinforce garage doors. Strong winds can easily damage garage doors, leading to structural issues. Reinforce them with braces or replace them with wind-resistant models.

• Trim trees and shrubs. Keep trees and large shrubs trimmed to reduce the risk of branches breaking off and damaging your home during a windstorm.

• Secure outdoor items. Anchor or store outdoor furniture, grills, and other objects that could become projectiles in high winds.^[6]

How to file a windstorm insurance claim

Knowing what to do after a windstorm can be confusing, especially if you’ve never had to file an insurance claim before.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started on receiving windstorm insurance payments following a covered peril.

1. Contact your insurance company. Notify your insurance company as soon as possible to start the claims process. You may start the claims process online, through an app, or by calling a claims hotline or your local agent’s office. Give them your policy number and any details about the claim. You may need to submit a written statement explaining the nature of the damage.

2. Document the damage. Take photos and videos of all windstorm damage, including your home’s interior and exterior condition.

3. Prevent further damage. Once you’ve documented the damage, make repairs right away if necessary to prevent further damage. Claims adjusters may only work during normal business hours, and you can’t wait to start repairs. For example, if you have roof damage, you may need to call a contractor to put up a tarp to prevent rainwater from coming inside. You may need to pay for these temporary repairs out of pocket, so save receipts to submit to your insurance company.

4. Meet with the adjuster. Arrange for an insurance adjuster to inspect the damage. It’s important to be there during the inspection to ensure they can access the property and to point out all affected areas.

5. Get repair estimates. Get estimates from licensed contractors for the cost of repairs and submit them to your insurance company.

6. Keep records. Keep copies of all correspondence, claim forms, and receipts related to the claim. This documentation can come in handy if you have a process dispute with your insurance company or in case of a discrepancy in billing with your contractor.

Windstorm insurance FAQs