FLORIDA– Marketwatch.com reports that not all damage done to homes in a hurricane will be covered by home owner’s insurance. Hurricane Michael struck land with winds that were 155 miles-per-hour. The Category 4 storm was almost severe enough to reach Category 5. Since record-keeping on the topic began, only two other storms have hit the United States with more intensity than Hurricane Michael. This storm was the most serious ever to hit Florida’s Panhandle.
Many of the Panhandle’s cities and towns were destroyed, and southern Georgia sustained heavy damage as well. The wind tore roofs from buildings and knocked down trees. Falling objects crushed homes and cars. The surge, which potentially reached 9 to 13 feet, demolished coastal towns.
Homeowners are now learning that the way in which their home was damaged by Hurricane Michael will potentially determine whether they are covered by their insurance policies. For instance, people whose homes were destroyed by water because the roof was blown off will typically be covered. Homeowners whose homes were severely damaged because of rising water levels may find that their insurance will not cover their losses.
Home insurance policies do not typically cover flooding damage. There are separate policies that can cover flooding, but homeowners would have to purchase these separately. In September, Hurricane Florence caused massive flooding in many homes. The damage to most of those houses will not be covered. Some estimates indicate that around 85 percent of the damage caused by Florence will not be covered by insurance. In Florida, only 14 percent of homes damaged by Hurricane Irma last year were covered by flood insurance.
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