Florida homeowners are well into hurricane season in July, however, the most intense storms usually haven't arrived yet. The real action typically ramps up in August, bringing with it increased risks not just from wind, but from flooding. Many homeowners mistakenly believe standard homeowners insurance covers flood damage – but it doesn’t. With a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance takes effect, it is critical to secure flood coverage before peak hurricane season (and increased flood risk) begins in earnest.
Let’s walk through what flood insurance covers, why you likely need it (even if you’re not in a flood zone), and why now is your window of opportunity before hurricane season flood risk hits its peak.
What Your Homeowners Insurance Covers & and What It Doesn’t
Your homeowners policy is designed to protect you against sudden, accidental damage to your home and personal property caused by wind, hail, fire, theft, and more. During a hurricane, the standard homeowners insurance typically covers wind-related damage to the structure of your home and the contents inside. For example, if the winds rip shingles from your roof or causes a tree to crash through a window.
What it doesn’t cover is damage from rising water. This includes storm surge, flash floods, or the collection of heavy rain seeping into your home from outside. Even if the flood is caused by a hurricane, it’s still excluded. This is where a separate flood insurance policy comes in.
Flooding Is the Most Common & Costly Natural Disaster
Floods can occur anywhere. They happen not only in coastal communities but also inland areas, especially during the rainy season. And during hurricane season, flooding often comes in two forms: from overwhelming rainfall and storm surge.
Many homeowners assume they don’t need flood insurance because their lender doesn’t require it, or because they’ve never seen their street flood. But past performance doesn’t predict future risk. And flood risk is rising for more people and places. So, as hurricane season flood risk continues to climb, with flash floods and inland flooding becoming more common, more Florida homeowners are discovering just how exposed they are – often after it’s too late to act.
Why Now is the Smart Time to Act
Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, but the most active and dangerous window is typically mid-August through mid-October. It’s when Florida faces the highest number of landfalling storms – and when the chance of flooding spikes.
The catch? Flood insurance policies usually come with a 30-day waiting period before coverage kicks in. This means if you wait until a storm is heading your way, it’s already too late to be financially protected against the high cost of flood damage. It’s why now is your key window. You still have time to get a policy in place so it’s active before the height of hurricane season flood risk rolls in.
A Hypothetical: ‘We Didn’t Think It Could Happen to Us’
Imagine this: Michael and Dana live in a well-kept home in a quiet Florida suburb, miles inland. Their neighborhood isn’t in a designated flood zone, and they’ve never experienced water intrusion in the 10 years they have lived in their home. They have solid homeowners coverage and believed they were fully protected.
Then came a hurricane. While it didn’t make a direct hit, it hovered long enough to drop more than 20” of rain in record time. Storm drains backed up. The water crept up over the curb, then the porch, then seeped in through the front door. By the time it was all over, they had 2feet of water in their home and were looking at tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
The worst part? They had no coverage for any of it. Their homeowners insurance denied the claim: it was flood damage, after all, not water intrusion due to wind damage. And since they didn’t carry flood insurance, they were on the hook for all of it.
Don’t be Michael and Dana. If you assume you’re not at risk, you may be overlooking exactly why flood protection matters.
Flooding Can Happen Anywhere It Rains
You don’t have to live near the coast to face flooding during hurricane season. In fact, more than 40% of all flood claims to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) come from properties outside of high-risk flood zones.
The truth is, Florida is flat, rainy, and increasingly developed. Concrete and asphalt prevent water from soaking into the ground. If a storm dumps enough rain in a short amount of time – and, during hurricane season, they often do – there’s nowhere for the water to go. It collects and rises.
This is especially true if your neighborhood has older drainage infrastructure or sits near retention ponds, creeks, canals, or golf course runoff paths.
And here’s a surprising bonus: if you’re not in a high-risk flood zone, flood insurance may actually be more affordable than you think. You don’t need to pay coastal prices to get meaningful protection. There’s no such thing as a zero-risk zone in Florida.
What Flood Insurance Covers
Flood insurance typically covers:
- Structural damage to your home from rising water
- Electrical and plumbing systems
- Flooring, walls, and cabinetry
- Foundation elements
- Detached garages
- Contents inside the home (if contents coverage is selected)
It can mean the difference between financial devastation and a manageable recovery.
And because claims from flood damage often far exceed what a homeowner expects – especially when multiple rooms, appliances, and personal property are affected – it’s one of the most important coverages to consider for protection for hurricane season flood risk.
Talk to Your Agent Before Peak Season Arrives
Your agent can review what your current homeowners policy does and doesn’t cover, and what kind of flood coverage makes sense for your property location and budget. They can also help you understand waiting periods, limits, and exclusions before you make a decision on flood insurance. Most importantly, they can help you act now – so you’re not left unprotected when hurricane season flood risk hits its peak.
Hurricane Season Flood Risks Are Rising – Make Sure You’re Ready
We all hope the season stays quiet. But smart homeowners don’t count on hope – they count on preparation. It’s your moment to take action, review your homeowners insurance policy protections, and fill any gaps while you still have time.
Remember: Flood is not covered by your homeowners policy. But there’s still time to close the gap – before hurricane season flood risk becomes a reality. Talk to your Ovation Home Insurance Exchange agent about it today – or get a quote with us online now.