Every year, June 1 arrives with the same reminder: hurricane season is here. And every year, thousands of Florida homeowners find themselves scrambling to figure out if they have the right coverage — after a storm is already forming in the Gulf.
Don’t be one of them. At Arruda Insurance Agency, we help Florida homeowners get ahead of hurricane season every spring — reviewing coverage gaps, unlocking discounts, and making sure you know exactly what your policy will and won’t do when a named storm heads your way.
Here’s what every Florida homeowner should know before June 1.
Understanding Your Named-Storm Deductible
This is the number one coverage detail Florida homeowners misunderstand — and it can be a very expensive surprise after a storm.
Most Florida homeowners policies include a separate, higher deductible that applies specifically when damage is caused by a named tropical storm or hurricane. Unlike your standard deductible — which might be a flat $1,000 or $2,500 — your named-storm deductible is typically calculated as a percentage of your home’s insured value.
For example:
- If your home is insured for $400,000 and your named-storm deductible is 2%, you’ll pay the first $8,000 out of pocket before your insurance kicks in.
- At 5%, that same home has a $20,000 deductible.
- Some policies set this as high as 10% in high-risk coastal areas.
Pull out your declarations page and find this number before hurricane season begins. If you’re not sure what it says, call us — we’ll walk you through it.
Wind Mitigation Inspections: The Discount Most Homeowners Leave on the Table
If you haven’t had a wind mitigation inspection done on your Florida home, you may be significantly overpaying for insurance — and not even know it.
A wind mitigation inspection is a professional assessment of your home’s ability to withstand hurricane-force winds. Inspectors evaluate features like:
- Roof shape (hip roofs earn the largest discounts)
- Roof covering material and age
- Roof deck attachment strength
- Roof-to-wall connection type (clips vs. single vs. double wraps)
- Opening protection — hurricane shutters or impact-resistant windows and doors
The results go directly to your insurance carrier, and the premium discounts can be substantial — sometimes 20% to 45% off the wind portion of your premium. The inspection typically costs $150 to $300 and pays for itself within the first month of savings.
If you’ve made improvements to your home — new roof, hurricane shutters, impact windows — but haven’t updated your wind mitigation report, you’re almost certainly leaving money on the table. An updated inspection could unlock new discounts immediately.
Your Pre-Hurricane Season Coverage Checklist
Before June 1, work through this checklist with your insurance agent:
- Review your dwelling coverage limit — Make sure your home is insured for its full replacement cost — not market value. Construction costs in Florida have risen sharply; many homes are now underinsured.
- Confirm your named-storm deductible — Know the exact dollar amount before a storm — not after.
- Check your flood insurance status — Homeowners insurance does not cover flooding. If you don’t have a separate flood policy, now is the time. Remember: there’s a 30-day waiting period for new NFIP policies.
- Review your contents coverage — Does your policy cover the full replacement cost of your belongings, or just their depreciated value?
- Confirm additional living expenses coverage — If a hurricane makes your home uninhabitable, does your policy cover hotel stays and meals while you’re displaced?
- Document your belongings — Walk through your home with your phone and record a video inventory. Store it in the cloud.
- Schedule a wind mitigation inspection — Especially if your roof is newer or you’ve added storm protection.
- Ask about Citizens vs. private market options — Florida’s insurance market has changed significantly. A fresh quote comparison could save you hundreds per year.
Don’t Wait for the First Storm Warning
At Arruda Insurance Agency, we serve Florida homeowners from our independent agency — which means we shop multiple carriers to find you the best protection at the best price. Whether you need a fresh quote, a coverage review, or help understanding your wind mitigation options, we’re here to help.
Call us at (508) 636-6626, email info@arrudainsurance.com, or start a quote at arrudainsurance.com. Let’s make sure your Florida home is ready before the season begins.
Arruda Insurance Agency — serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Florida.