Whether a hurricane crosses your path – and what it does when it gets to you – depends on a lot of variables and can be somewhat unpredictable. It’s important to remember: No two hurricanes are exactly alike. You may have made it through 10 hurricane seasons in Florida without a scratch, but it doesn’t mean the next big storm won’t affect you.
A little bit of preparation can go a long way toward protecting your home and loved ones from hurricane damage. One of the most important ways you can prepare for frequent hazards in Florida, like hurricanes and tropical storms, is to make sure your home is properly insured. This way, even if the worst happens, you get assistance to start over – without it breaking the bank. At The Windward Insurance Agency, we offer insurance for homeowners, condo owners, and renters – as well as flood insurance, business property insurance, boat insurance, and auto insurance.
What follows are five of the most common types of hurricane damage to Florida homes:
1. Broken Windows
Without adequate protection, the windows of your home are particularly susceptible to hurricane damage. Powerful winds often send debris and loose objects hurtling through the wind at a high velocity, which can easily shatter windows. Perhaps you’ve seen the image of a wood plank driven into a tree trunk after a storm? This is the kind of brute force these winds can carry. In addition, changes in atmospheric pressure, along with hurricane wind gusts, can push and pull at a windowpane, eventually breaking it.
Once a window is breached in your home, storm winds and rain can enter the inside of your home, causing more damage and undermining the durability of the roof and the rest of your home. It’s why so many experts in the field recommend the installation of hurricane-resistant storm shutters and garage doors, no matter where you live in Florida.
2. Roof Damage
No residential roof is immune from becoming damaged in a storm. Of course, the newer your roof and the better the materials and methods used to secure it to your home, the more durable it will be. But nothing makes a roof 100% hurricane damage-proof.
The high winds of a hurricane commonly tear shingles off roofs, exposing rafters and leading to roof leaks. The entire roof may be lifted upward as the storm passes through, weakening your roof’s connection to the rest of the house. Should any part of your roof be ripped off in a hurricane, it could lead to structural collapse.
Hurricane-force winds also commonly whip trees around and uproot quite a few. Objects carried in the wind become potentially deadly airborne projectiles. If an uprooted tree falls on your roof or an airborne object crashes into your roof, it can cause significant damage during and after the storm.
3. Water Damage
Hurricanes bring a tremendous amount of water to an area. For homes along the Florida coast, a storm surge may submerge vehicles and flood houses, even those many miles inland. Broken windows and damaged roofs may let in excessive rainwater during a hurricane, which can occur anywhere along the hurricane’s path.
Once water enters the home, a host of problems can develop. Water damage can impact your walls, flooring, electrical systems in the home, and personal belongings. If water reaches the wiring, it can damage appliances, spark a fire, and pose a risk of electrocution. Water affecting the structure of your home can undermine its foundation and make the home structurally unstable.
4. Mold, Mildew
After water damage in the home comes the inevitable growth of mold and mildew – unless it is quickly and comprehensively stopped. Any lingering moisture, either from rising water (flooding) or rainwater entering the house, can damage your walls, personal property, and lead to health issues.
5. Siding & Structural Damage
High winds and projectiles carried in those winds are often the cause of hurricane damage to, or complete detachment of, siding and other external parts of the home, including outside A/C units, pool equipment, and generators. Heavy rain or flooding during a storm can lead to erosion, which could destabilize the house.
Hurricane Damage Protection You Can Trust
In Florida, the risk of experiencing hurricane damage to your property is very real, especially during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30 each year.
The Windward Insurance Agency is proud to be a leading, Florida-based, full-service insurance agency with a team of professionals dedicated to getting you the best insurance options available. We can make sure your Florida home is protected not only during hurricane season, but year-round. And, in the worst-case scenario, we’ll be there for you should you need help starting over.
Get an online quote now or call us today at (866) 231-2433 to find out more.
