Windstorm Insurance: What It Covers and When You Need It
Learn how windstorm insurance protects your home from hurricane-force winds and storm damage — and when you may need separate coverage.
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Written byDaria Kelly Uhlig
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Daria Kelly UhligHome Insurance Writer, Realtor
Licensed Realtor with 10+ years in personal finance content
Contributor to Nasdaq and USA Today
Daria is a licensed Realtor and resort property manager specializing in personal finance, real estate, and insurance topics. In her spare time, she practices photography.
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Edited byMacKenzie Korris
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MacKenzie KorrisLicensed P&C Agent, Insurance Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.
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Reviewed byJohn Leach
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John LeachLicensed P&C Agent, Chief Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John is Insurify’s Chief Copy Editor, helping ensure the accuracy and readability of Insurify’s content. He’s a licensed agent specializing in home and car insurance topics.
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Table of contents
Windstorms from weather events such as hurricanes, tropical storms, and thunderstorms cause billions of dollars in damage each year. The Insurance Information Institute estimated hurricane wind risk alone to total over $11.68 billion and affect more than 33 million homes in 2025.[1]
Standard home insurance often covers wind damage. But windstorm insurance coverage varies by state, insurance company, and distance from the coast. In high-risk states such as Florida, North Carolina, and Texas, you might need to get separate wind insurance or pay a separate deductible.
Here’s what you should know about insuring your home against wind damage.
Quick Facts
Windstorm insurance covers damage that occurs as a direct result of wind.
In some states, “wind pools” provide windstorm coverage to homeowners unable to find it on their own.
Wind insurance doesn’t cover damage from neglect or normal wear.
What is windstorm insurance?
Windstorm insurance is a stand-alone policy, separate from your regular homeowners insurance policy, that covers damage from strong winds resulting from hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, cyclones, and thunderstorms.
Some insurance companies refer to this type of policy as named-storm coverage (a storm named by the National Weather Service) or wind and hail coverage.
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Who needs 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.
For example, Texas homeowners in coastal counties may need to get separate coverage through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA).
The following states tend to have higher deductibles or limited coverage for hurricanes and windstorms:
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.[2]
What windstorm insurance covers
Windstorm insurance covers physical damage caused by high winds. It applies to sudden, accidental damage rather than long-term wear and tear.
Windstorm insurance protects against the following types of wind damage:
Roof damage: Wind can cause structural damage to your roof and damage components like shingles, sheathing, soffits, flashing, and gutters.
Siding and exterior damage: Wind can damage siding or tear it away, and it can damage window caulking and glass.
Interior damage: Wind and rain can enter your house through a damaged roof or exterior and cause interior damage, including to your personal property.
Detached structures: Other structures coverage typically includes detached structures, such as garages and sheds. This coverage is usually limited to a small percentage of the dwelling coverage you have on your home.[3]
Falling objects: Falling tree branches and toppled trees typically are covered perils if the trees were healthy before the wind event, regardless of whether the trees are yours or your neighbors’.[4]
Many windstorm policies also cover hail damage, though some insurers require a separate wind/hail deductible. It’s important to understand that insurance only covers these damages when wind is the direct cause. Property insurance won’t cover damage from excluded events, such as flooding.
What windstorm insurance doesn’t cover
A windstorm insurance policy doesn’t cover all types of wind damage. While it’s designed to cover accidental damage from unexpected winds, it specifically excludes the following types of events and damages:
Flood damage: Homeowners insurance and windstorm policies won’t cover flood damage — even when it results from the same storm that caused damaging winds. You need separate flood insurance for that.
Storm surge: A storm surge is a type of flood. As such, windstorm insurance specifically excludes it from coverage, even if it results from wind.
Wear and tear: Windstorm insurance covers accidental, unexpected damage. Wear and tear is an ongoing process that you can anticipate will eventually lead to damage.
Cosmetic damage: Homeowners insurance often excludes cosmetic damage to your roof and exterior.
Unsecured property: Your insurer might not cover unsecured property, such as patio furniture, if it finds that you neglected to secure the items.
Your insurer might deny your claim for any damage it determines was due to neglect or existed before the windstorm.
How do windstorm deductibles work?
In high-risk areas vulnerable to wind damage, insurers often impose a separate deductible that specifically applies to wind damage — typically 1%–5% of your dwelling coverage.
A windstorm deductible typically applies only to named storms. But in some states, such as in Louisiana, any type of storm can trigger it.[5]
Understanding Windstorm Deductibles
Imagine you have $300,000 of dwelling coverage, and your windstorm deductible is 2%. This formula tells you how much the deductible is: $300,000 ×x 0.02 = $6,000.
If you file a windstorm insurance claim, you’d have to pay the first $6,000 out of pocket, and the insurer would pay the rest, up to your policy limits.
Although windstorm deductibles help keep premiums lower, they result in higher out-of-pocket costs if you experience storm damage.
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How much does windstorm insurance cost?
The national average home insurance premium is $217 per month for a standard policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, according to Insurify data. But windstorm coverage can add hundreds or thousands of dollars to your annual insurance premium if you live in an area susceptible to damage from high winds from hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and other severe weather.
Factors like distance to the coast, local building codes, your roof’s type and age, and your deductible amount are some of the factors that determine the premium you’ll pay.
The following table shows the 10 states most vulnerable to windstorms and the average homeowners insurance premium for each, based on a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible.
The below national rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, May 11 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company  | Average Annual Premium: With $300,000 in Dwelling Coverage |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,212 |
| Allstate | $1,416 |
| USAA | $1,512 |
| Allstate | $1,512 |
| Chubb | $1,536 |
| USAA | $1,584 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,644 |
| Farmers | $1,692 |
| Allstate | $1,824 |
| Travelers | $1,872 |
| USAA | $1,956 |
| Nationwide | $2,052 |
| State Farm | $2,088 |
| Farmers | $2,124 |
| Nationwide | $2,268 |
| Travelers | $2,292 |
| USAA | $2,304 |
| Travelers | $2,328 |
| American Family | $2,376 |
| USAA | $2,424 |
| Allstate | $2,424 |
| Travelers | $2,448 |
| Allstate | $2,496 |
| Farmers | $2,532 |
| Country Financial | $2,568 |
| USAA | $2,628 |
| USAA | $2,688 |
| Farmers | $2,724 |
| Allied | $2,724 |
| Allstate | $2,736 |
| Farmers | $2,760 |
| Foremost | $2,808 |
| Chubb | $2,856 |
| Auto-Owners | $2,892 |
| Foremost | $2,916 |
| Travelers | $2,964 |
| Travelers | $3,012 |
| State Farm | $3,036 |
| Foremost | $3,072 |
| USAA | $3,084 |
| Allstate | $3,096 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,192 |
| Nationwide | $3,216 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,252 |
| Foremost | $3,264 |
| State Farm | $3,276 |
| Nationwide | $3,288 |
| Foremost | $3,420 |
| Travelers | $3,504 |
| Encompass | $3,528 |
| Nationwide | $3,552 |
| Foremost | $3,636 |
| Nationwide | $3,720 |
| Encompass | $3,804 |
| Country Financial | $3,924 |
| State Farm | $3,924 |
| Travelers | $4,008 |
| State Farm | $4,260 |
| Auto-Owners | $4,284 |
| State Farm | $4,368 |
| State Farm | $4,536 |
| State Farm | $4,596 |
| State Farm | $4,704 |
| Encompass | $5,004 |
| Farmers | $5,172 |
| Allstate | $5,256 |
| Allstate | $5,280 |
| Nationwide | $5,964 |
| Allied | $6,624 |
| Encompass | $6,648 |
| Chubb | $6,696 |
| Erie | $7,092 |
| Nationwide | $7,116 |
| Allstate | $7,656 |
| Chubb | $8,604 |
| Chubb | $9,552 |
Do you need separate windstorm insurance?
A separate windstorm policy covers damage that your standard homeowners insurance might limit or exclude. These policies are more common in coastal areas such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and the Carolinas. But you might benefit from separate wind coverage if:
Your policy excludes wind damage.
You live in an area prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, or severe thunderstorms.
Your insurer requires a windstorm endorsement.
Read your insurance policy declaration pages carefully to make sure you understand what your policy does and doesn’t cover.
If your policy lists wind damage or damage from hurricanes or other specific storm types as exclusions, investigate whether or not your state offers a wind pool. Such pools are insurers of last resort for homeowners unable to find windstorm coverage elsewhere.
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Learn More: What is FAIR Plan Homeowners Insurance?
Windstorm insurance vs. hurricane insurance
Windstorm insurance is the part of your standard homeowners insurance policy that covers wind-related damage specifically.
Hurricane insurance isn’t a separate policy type. It refers to the combined coverage you receive from your homeowners or wind insurance policy and your separate flood insurance policy.
Homeowners in hurricane zones often need both coverage types for comprehensive protection against losses from those storms, as you can see in the table below.
Coverage Type | What It Covers | What It Doesn’t Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Windstorm insurance | Wind damage, debris impact | Flooding, storm surge |
| Flood insurance | Rising water, storm surge | Wind damage |
How to file a windstorm insurance claim
If a windstorm damages your home, detached building, or personal belongings, check your policy to verify your insurance coverage and deductible. If you’re covered and the damage exceeds the deductible, take the following steps to file a claim.
1. Start the claim
Call your insurance agent, or navigate to the claims section of your insurer’s website or mobile app to begin the claims process.
2. Prevent further damage
For example, board up broken windows to keep rain out.
3. Document the damage
Take photos and make a list of the damages. Claims adjusters use that information to prepare damage estimates.
4. File any forms the insurer asks for
Respond quickly to help expedite your claim.
5. Wait for the settlement offer
When you receive and accept the offer, follow the insurer’s instructions for hiring contractors to do the work.
Note that major storms with widespread damage can result in claim-processing delays.
How to protect your home from wind damage
Here are several different ways to protect your home from wind damage:[6]
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.
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Windstorm insurance FAQs
Understanding how windstorm insurance works is key to ensuring that you’re adequately protected.
Is windstorm insurance required?
Not by law. But mortgage lenders typically require homeowners insurance, which includes wind coverage, for homes they finance or that secure their loans.
Does homeowners insurance cover wind damage?
Yes, as long as it happens during a covered event. But insurers sometimes require windstorm or hurricane deductibles for homes located in coastal and other vulnerable areas.
Does windstorm insurance cover hail?
Usually. Windstorm damage is covered by standard homeowners insurance policies, which also cover hail. Check your policy for excluded weather events requiring separate wind/hail insurance or separate hurricane or windstorm/hail deductibles.
Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage?
Yes. A standard homeowners policy does cover damage from tornadoes, although damage from wind might be subject to a wind deductible in certain areas of the country.
Can insurers deny windstorm claims for old roofs?
Yes. Insurance covers damage when wind is the direct cause. The insurer can deny a claim if it determines that normal wear was a contributing factor.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed rates from more than 180 home insurance companies sourced directly from Insurify’s partner companies and Quadrant Information Services. Rates span all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and quote averages represent the mean price for a given coverage level and geographic area. To ensure data reliability, only insurers meeting minimum quote thresholds were included in the analysis.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for homeowners with no prior claims and good credit with a home construction year of 1980. The default coverage assumptions include:
Default Coverage Assumptions
- Dwelling coverage: $300,000
- Deductible: $1,000
- Personal property limit: $25,000
- Liability limit: $300,000
Additional data points beyond these default values are sourced from Insurify’s proprietary database. Rates are updated monthly.
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Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Hurricanes."
- National Hurricane Center. "Hurricane Preparedness - Hazards."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What is covered by standard homeowners insurance?."
- Insurance Information Institute. "If a tree falls on your house, are you covered?."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Background on: Hurricane and windstorm deductibles."
- Federal Emergency Management Agency. "Protect Your Property From Severe Winds."
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Daria Kelly UhligHome Insurance Writer, Realtor
Licensed Realtor with 10+ years in personal finance content
Contributor to Nasdaq and USA Today
Daria is a licensed Realtor and resort property manager specializing in personal finance, real estate, and insurance topics. In her spare time, she practices photography.
Featured in
Daria is a licensed Realtor and resort property manager specializing in personal finance, real estate, and insurance topics. In her spare time, she practices photography.
MacKenzie KorrisLicensed P&C Agent, Insurance Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.
John LeachLicensed P&C Agent, Chief Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John is Insurify’s Chief Copy Editor, helping ensure the accuracy and readability of Insurify’s content. He’s a licensed agent specializing in home and car insurance topics.
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