Most homeowners think they have one claim after a hurricane. They have two — wind and flood, covered by two separate policies, with two adjusters, two timelines, and a disputed boundary between them.
Built by homeowners who've navigated coastal hurricane claims — and by people who've spent years reviewing where two-policy claims quietly go wrong.
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Flood policies have a 30-day waiting period. Coverage windows close when a storm is named. The decisions that protect you must be made before season — not after.
The wind/flood determination is the most contested question in hurricane claims. How you document in the first 72 hours determines how that question gets answered.
Hurricane claims are the only type where two separate insurers may each attribute damage to the other's policy. Organization across both claims is what closes that gap.
None of these are careless mistakes. All of them are preventable.
Homeowners policies don't cover flooding. NFIP has a 30-day waiting period — and coverage windows close when a storm is named. Most homeowners discover this only when the water is already inside.
Both insurers have financial incentive to attribute damage to the other policy. Homeowners who accept the first determination without asking for the evidence basis routinely leave significant money behind.
Mold in a coastal climate can begin growing within 24 hours. Insurers can and do contest mold remediation costs when mitigation was delayed. Most homeowners wait for the adjuster — and that wait is costly.
To dispute any aspect of your flood settlement, you must file a Proof of Loss within 60 days. Missing this deadline forfeits your right to challenge. Most homeowners don't know this deadline exists.
Use the checklist to track both claims. Use the playbook when the wind/flood question becomes a dispute.
A three-phase guide through preparation, storm documentation, and two-claim recovery — including the Before the Storm phase that needs to happen before hurricane season.
The two-policy reality, wind vs. flood determination, and how to coordinate two separate claims through recovery. 8 parts, free to read.
ClaimEase tracks both claims in one place — communications, documents, expenses, and timelines — so nothing falls through the gap between two policies.
Not insurance, legal, or financial advice.
Start Your Hurricane Claim Organized →No. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding — not from storm surge, rising water, or overland flooding. Flood damage requires a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer. If you don't have a separate flood policy, flooding is not covered at all. How the two-policy reality works is in Part 1 of the playbook.
This is the central dispute in major hurricane claims — and both insurers have financial incentive to attribute damage to the other policy. What you document in the first 72 hours significantly influences how the determination gets made. How to protect yourself is in Part 3 of the playbook.
Many coastal homeowners policies include a separate deductible for named storms — almost always a percentage of your home's insured value, not a flat dollar amount. A 5% deductible on a $500,000 home means $25,000 out of your pocket before insurance pays anything. Calculate the actual dollar amount before storm season. More in Part 1 of the playbook.
In coastal climates, mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours of water intrusion. Most homeowners policies cap mold remediation at $10,000 to $25,000. Insurers can contest those costs if you failed to mitigate promptly — water mitigation needs to start within 48 hours, not when convenient. More in Part 5 of the playbook.