Some policies have a separate deductible for hurricane damage, which can be higher than the standard deductible or a percentage, usually 1-5%, of one or more of your coverage limits.
These deductibles are most common if you live in high-risk areas, such as along the Atlantic Coast. They apply once a storm has reached a certain strength.
If a storm moves past a tropical depression and becomes a “named storm” that causes damage to your home, then the hurricane deductible will apply. For example, your hurricane deductible could be 2% of your dwelling coverage. If your dwelling coverage policy is for $200,000 and you file a claim for $10,000 then, if your claim is approved, you will receive $6,000 and be responsible for the remaining $4,000.
The circumstances in which a hurricane deductible will apply differ from state to state. In the state of Florida, a hurricane needs to be officially declared a named storm by the National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service. The hurricane deductible applies from the beginning of the hurricane watch or warning issued by the National Hurricane Center and ends 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or warning is issued.