For homeowners in Florida, hurricane season is not something to think about at the last minute. It is a yearly reality that requires preparation, organization, and a clear understanding of how your insurance policy would respond if a storm affects your home.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center (NOAA National Hurricane Center, 2026). That means May is the ideal time to review your home, your documents, and your insurance coverage before storm activity becomes a more immediate concern.

At The Beacon Insurance Agency, we believe preparation should not be driven by fear, but by clarity. A well-prepared homeowner is in a better position to protect their family, reduce financial uncertainty, and respond more effectively if a hurricane causes damage.

Start with your insurance policy

Before hurricane season begins, one of the most important steps is to review your homeowners insurance policy. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation encourages consumers to review their policies, understand their coverages, and protect their homes from the threat of flooding before severe weather arrives (Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, n.d.).

This review should begin with your declarations page, which summarizes your coverage limits, deductibles, insured property, and how your policy is structured. The Insurance Information Institute also recommends starting the insurance review process by reading this page carefully, because it explains how much coverage you have, what deductibles apply, and how a claim would be paid (Insurance Information Institute, 2026).

For many homeowners, this is where important questions appear: Does the policy reflect the current cost of rebuilding the home? Are personal belongings properly covered? Is there a separate hurricane deductible? Is flood insurance included or excluded?

Those questions are easier to answer before a storm is approaching.

Understand your hurricane deductible

In Florida, hurricane deductibles can work differently from standard homeowners deductibles. Instead of being a fixed dollar amount, they are often calculated as a percentage of the dwelling or structure limit.

The Florida Department of Financial Services explains that insurers must offer hurricane deductible options of $500, 2%, 5%, or 10% of the policy dwelling or structure limits, with certain exceptions (Florida Department of Financial Services, n.d.). The Insurance Information Institute also notes that hurricane or windstorm deductibles are commonly expressed as a percentage of the insured value of the home, often between 1% and 5% depending on the policy and location (Insurance Information Institute, n.d.-a).

This matters because a percentage deductible can represent a significant out-of-pocket expense. For example, a 5% hurricane deductible on a home insured for $400,000 could mean the homeowner is responsible for the first $20,000 of covered hurricane damage before insurance applies.

That is why homeowners should review not only whether they have coverage, but also whether they understand what they would need to pay after a storm.

Do not confuse homeowners insurance with flood insurance

One of the most important issues in hurricane preparation is understanding the difference between wind damage and flood damage.

Standard homeowners insurance may cover certain types of wind-related damage, but it typically does not cover flooding. FEMA’s Ready.gov specifically advises homeowners to make sure insurance policies and personal documents are up to date and to keep copies in a secure digital space before a hurricane (Ready.gov, n.d.-a).

Because hurricanes can bring storm surge, heavy rain, and flooding, homeowners should confirm whether they have a separate flood insurance policy or whether they need to explore that option. This is especially important in Florida, where flood risk is not limited only to coastal properties.

At The Beacon Insurance Agency, this is one of the conversations we encourage clients to have early, because flood coverage cannot always be added at the last minute.