Hurricane claims are rarely just roof claims
A hurricane brings sustained wind, gusts, wind-driven rain, storm surge and inland flooding, often all on the same property. Florence in 2018 made landfall near Wrightsville Beach and stalled, dropping record rain across the southeastern counties. Helene in 2024 pushed destructive wind and catastrophic flooding deep into the mountains around Asheville. Inland homes in Charlotte still remember the trees Hugo brought down in 1989.
That variety is why hurricane claim appraisal requires careful separation of causes. Homeowners and commercial property policies generally cover windstorm and many forms of wind-driven rain damage, while flood and surge are usually excluded and handled by a separate flood policy.
What we value in a hurricane claim
- Roof covering, decking and flashing damage from sustained wind and gusts.
- Wind-driven rain entering through storm-created openings, and the interior damage that follows.
- Siding, windows, doors, porches, decks and screened enclosures.
- Tree impacts and debris removal.
- Mitigation: tarping, drying, mold remediation and temporary repairs.
Wind versus flood
When water rises from outside, the flood policy, if there is one, generally responds. When the roof opens and rain pours in, the wind policy generally responds. Real houses often have both. We document water lines, damage patterns and the sequence of events so each dollar is assigned to the policy that owes it. Our wind vs. flood damage splitter shows how that allocation works in illustrative terms.
Named-storm and hurricane deductibles
Coastal and many inland policies apply a percentage deductible when a named storm or hurricane causes the loss. On a $400,000 dwelling limit, a 2% deductible is $8,000 (an illustrative figure). Knowing the real deductible keeps expectations honest before appraisal begins.
Questions about hurricane & tropical storm claims
Can appraisal decide whether damage was wind or flood?
Appraisal sets the amount of loss, and in some policies the appraisers can value damage by cause. Whether a cause is covered is still a coverage question that the panel doesn’t decide.
How long after a hurricane can I demand appraisal?
It depends on your policy and the suit-limitation period. Appraisal usually follows the carrier’s estimate and a documented disagreement, so start organizing records early.
Does the hurricane deductible apply to every claim from the storm?
Usually it applies once per named storm or hurricane event, but wording varies. Check whether your form applies it per occurrence, per season or per building.