3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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North Carolina experiences severe weather. Statistically, a major storm makes direct landfall in the state roughly every other year.[1] As seen recently with Hurricane Helene, the destruction from these storms can be wide-ranging and tragic.
Hurricane insurance isn’t a separate policy that you purchase. Instead, homeowners can purchase flood insurance and windstorm coverage to cover their homes in the event of a hurricane. For homeowners in hurricane-prone areas, it may make sense to buy additional coverage.
Here’s what you should know about how hurricane insurance works, how much it costs, and the details to consider before purchasing a policy.
Quick Facts
Standard home insurance policies can cover windstorms but not floods.[2]
North Carolina has a separate insurance program for windstorm coverage.
The current average annual cost of flood insurance for North Carolina homeowners is $780.
What is hurricane insurance?
Hurricane insurance isn’t a stand-alone policy that you buy separately. Instead, hurricane insurance combines windstorm and flood insurance policies, which together cover damage to your home’s structure after a hurricane.
Many homeowners purchase flood insurance as an add-on policy to cover water damage after a storm. Standard homeowners insurance policies don’t include flood insurance, but you can purchase it through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program.[3]
Some insurance companies may exclude windstorm coverage from home insurance policies, given the state’s hurricane-prone climate. If so, you may be able to purchase a separate windstorm policy through the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA).[4]
Separate windstorm policies through the NCIUA come with separate deductibles. “Named storms” — or storms officially named by the National Hurricane Center — trigger these deductibles.
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What hurricane insurance covers in North Carolina
In the event of a hurricane in North Carolina, your policy’s hurricane insurance can pay to repair the following types of damage:
Wind damage to your dwelling
Your policy’s windstorm coverage will kick in if a hurricane causes damage to your home. For instance, high winds could damage your roof’s shingles or cause a nearby tree to hit your home. This coverage also applies to damage to other structures, such as a garage or detached shed.
Damage to personal belongings
Your standard homeowners insurance policy covers damage to personal belongings, such as furniture, clothes, or other household items.
Damage to trees, plants, and shrubs
Most standard homeowners policies cover landscaping damage, usually at $500 per item. But it likely won’t cover diseased or poorly maintained trees and plants.[5]
Spoilage of refrigerated food
If a hurricane causes a prolonged power outage that leads to food spoilage, your homeowners insurance may cover the costs of replacing this food up to a certain amount.
Temporary living expenses
If the damage is so widespread that you need to relocate temporarily, your policy’s additional living expenses (ALE) coverage will pay for related hotel, restaurant, and transportation costs.
Flood damage
Hurricanes often lead to flooding, which can cause extensive water damage. You’ll need a separate flood insurance policy to cover this damage. Standard homeowners insurance policies exclude flood-related damage, including flood damage from a storm surge.[6]
What hurricane insurance doesn’t cover
Hurricane insurance excludes certain types of damage. Always read your policy closely to better understand what it does and doesn’t cover.
In many cases, hurricane insurance doesn’t cover the following types of damage:
Sewer backup: A clogged sewer can lead to widespread damage to your floors, walls, electrical systems, and more. Unfortunately, hurricane insurance won’t cover a sewer backup. You usually have to buy sewer backup coverage as a separate add-on to your standard homeowners insurance policy.
Downed trees: If a tree falls in your yard but doesn’t hit any insured structures, like your home or a shed, your insurance company won’t pay for the removal process.
If you’re looking for coverage for these perils, you may be able to purchase additional coverage. Talk to your insurance company about potential policy add-ons.
Hurricane deductibles explained
Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for a loss before your insurance kicks in. Deductibles are typically a flat-dollar amount, such as $500. But given the high costs that come with hurricane damage, many states — including North Carolina — have started using a separate deductible that only applies to hurricane-related damage.[7]
Instead of a flat-dollar amount, hurricane deductibles are a percentage of your overall coverage. For example, if you’ve purchased $300,000 in dwelling coverage and your hurricane deductible is 2%, you’ll pay $6,000 out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. Generally, setting a higher deductible will lead to lower monthly premiums.
Good to Know
Hurricane deductibles apply to named storms (such as Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy). This includes tropical storms, tropical depressions, and typhoons. Read your policy terms closely to better understand when your hurricane deductible applies.
Hurricane insurance cost in North Carolina
Your home’s size, age, and location play a major role in your hurricane insurance prices. For instance, houses closer to the coast may be at greater risk for damage from a storm surge. Insurance companies charge higher premiums to account for this risk.
On average, a North Carolina homeowner with $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible pays $2,110 per year for a standard home insurance policy. Your standard home insurance may exclude windstorm coverage if you live in certain parts of North Carolina, which may affect your insurance costs.
You’ll also have to factor in the cost of flood insurance, which is essential for many North Carolina property owners. According to the FEMA flood insurance website, North Carolina homeowners pay $780 per year for flood insurance.
Added together, North Carolina homeowners pay an average of $2,890 per year for hurricane insurance. Your rates vary based on many factors — including your area’s loss history and the likelihood of a hurricane making landfall in your area.
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Other home insurance coverages you may need in case of hurricanes
A standard homeowners insurance policy might not be enough to protect yourself financially in the event of a hurricane. North Carolina residents might want to consider the following coverages for some added protection:
Sewer backup: You’re responsible for repairs to the pipe running from your city’s sanitation system to your home. Unfortunately, insurers don’t cover damage to this pipe in standard policies. Purchasing a sewer backup add-on to your policy can come in handy in North Carolina.
Personal property endorsement: Take inventory of your personal possessions. If you own expensive jewelry or furniture that a hurricane could damage in a hurricane, you might want to consider an “endorsement,” or “floater,” that helps you insure these valuable items separately.
North Carolina hurricane insurance FAQs
The following information can help answer your remaining questions about hurricane insurance in North Carolina.
Can you get hurricane insurance in North Carolina?
Yes. While insurance companies don’t sell hurricane insurance as a separate policy, North Carolina property owners can purchase flood insurance and windstorm coverage separately to protect themselves financially in the event of a hurricane.
Does North Carolina require wind insurance?
No. North Carolina doesn’t require windstorm insurance, but you may need it. Some insurance companies might exclude windstorm coverage from their policies in North Carolina. If so, homeowners can buy a stand-alone windstorm policy through the NCIUA.
What is the maximum coverage for hurricane insurance?
The National Flood Insurance Program has maximum coverage limits of $250,000 for dwelling coverage and $100,000 for personal property. North Carolina caps dwelling coverage for windstorms at $1,000,000 and personal property coverage at 40% of the approved dwelling coverage.
How do you file a hurricane insurance claim?
After a severe storm, it’s a good idea to call your insurance agent. Ask them exactly what your policy covers, clarify your deductible amount, start explaining the damage, and ask if you’ll need to send them an estimate for repairs. Then take pictures of the damage and either upload these to an app or email them directly to your agent.
Is it worth getting hurricane insurance?
North Carolina experiences severe storms regularly. Making sure you have a sufficient amount of flood insurance and windstorm coverage is essential in North Carolina, particularly if you live in coastal areas.
A.M. is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and content marketing strategist who's worked with major brands in insurance, tech, finance, and healthcare. He also contributes to The Average Joe, a personal finance newsletter that reaches over 250,000 daily readers. Since 2019, he's written for Insurify, breaking down a diverse range of insurance topics into crisp, readable prose.
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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