What they are
According to the Insurance Information Institute, 19 states and the District of Columbia have hurricane deductibles. Instead of a fixed dollar amount, they’re usually a percentage of the home’s insured value (the dwelling limit), typically from 1% to 5%, and can be higher in some high-risk coastal areas.
A worked example
With a dwelling limit of $300,000 and a 2% hurricane deductible, you’d pay the first $6,000 of a hurricane wind claim. A standard $1,000 deductible might still apply to other claims such as fire or theft.
Triggers
Triggers vary by state and insurer: they may depend on the National Weather Service naming a storm, issuing a hurricane watch or warning, or a storm reaching a certain intensity, and they often apply for a window before and after landfall. Read the endorsement in your policy.
Flood is separate
Storm surge and rising water are flood, which standard homeowners policies exclude. You need NFIP or private flood cover. See flood insurance and the NFIP deadline.
Last updated: 7 October 2026
