Hurricane Season Comes Every Three Minutes…

By Ted Todd Insurance | Hurricane Season Comes Every Three Minutes…

There’s a saying that as you get older, Christmas comes every five minutes. In the insurance industry, we like to say hurricane season comes every three minutes.

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season could be one of the quietest in recent memory due to a strengthening El Niño. But no matter how active or quiet the season may be, Florida homeowners should be prepared for whatever comes next.

Here are three things we wish every Florida homeowner knew when choosing an insurance policy.

1. Carry a separate flood insurance policy. Most Florida homeowners choose the cheapest quote. Unfortunately, the cheapest quote often doesn't include flood insurance. As a result, after Hurricane Ian, fewer than one in five homes in Florida's hardest-hit counties had flood insurance. It’s also not enough to wait until the National Weather Service releases its hurricane season predictions. Most flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) have a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect. That’s why it’s so important to secure a flood insurance policy before hurricane season rears its ugly head.
2. Verify that you have replacement cost value coverage, not actual cash value. After a hurricane, an actual cash value policy pays what your roof is worth today after depreciation. If your 18-year-old roof would cost $18,000 to replace, the insurance company may determine its actual cash value is only $5,000. Unfortunately, that means the remaining $13,000 needed to replace your roof comes straight out of your pocket. Replacement cost value coverage, on the other hand, helps pay the full cost of replacing your roof with one of equivalent quality and value. Using that same $18,000 roof, your coverage would be based on the full replacement cost, leaving your primary out-of-pocket expense as your hurricane deductible.
3. Understand your hurricane deductible before a storm hits, not after. Just like you wouldn’t order linguine alle vongole for a family member with a shellfish allergy, you should understand every ingredient of your insurance policy before you need to use it. What is—and isn't—covered by your hurricane deductible? Unlike a standard homeowners insurance deductible, a hurricane deductible is typically calculated as a percentage of your home's insured value rather than as a flat dollar amount. Let's break it down. If your home is insured for $600,000 and your policy has a 2% hurricane deductible, you'll be responsible for the first $12,000 in covered hurricane damage before your insurance coverage begins. Mama mia!

That’s why two of the most important questions you can ask your insurance agent are: "What is covered?" and "What isn't covered by my current policy?"

With the right agent, those two simple questions can help you avoid costly surprises, uncover potential savings, and give you greater peace of mind before the next storm arrives.