Hurricanes are tropical cyclones or severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. All of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal regions are susceptible to hurricanes.

Hurricanes are capable of doing catastrophic damage to coastlines and even several hundred miles inland in Mississippi. They can produce winds exceeding 155 miles per hour, as well as tornadoes and microbursts. They can also cause storm surges and heavy rainfall along coastlines. Most hurricane damage is due to flooding and flying debris. 

Does Flood Insurance Cover Hurricanes in Mississippi?

Your Mississippi homeowners insurance does not provide coverage for damage to your home and property due to floods, including flooding caused by hurricanes. 

Rather, you can get flood insurance offered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federal program created by Congress in 1968 to help homeowners protect themselves from the financial devastation of floods. Homeowners, renters, condo owners, and business owners can buy NFIP flood insurance to cover flood damage caused by hurricanes and other events.

Remember that insurance companies will not accept new applications for coverage after a designated hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico or the area located in the boundaries of 80 degrees west longitude by 20 degrees north latitude. It’s important to make sure you have appropriate coverage for your Mississippi home or apartment long before the storm hits. 

When Is Hurricane Flooding Covered by Flood Insurance? 

Flood insurance in Mississippi only covers your property damage under certain conditions. The NFIP defines a flood as “an excess of water on land that is normally dry, affecting two or more acres of land or two or more properties.”

Other examples of flooding as defined by the NFIP include:

• Overflow: During a tropical storm or a hurricane, storm surge can cause an overflow of inland or tidal waters. 
• Runoff: When an area without sufficient drainage receives heavy rainfall in a short period of time.
• Mudflow: Heavy or sustained rainfall accumulates on the ground and forms a river of mud down a hillside. This is a common occurrence after a wildfire.
• Erosion: Severe storms can produce waves and cause shoreline erosion along lakes and other bodies of water. 

Again according to the NFIP, “Flood insurance covers overflow of inland or tidal waters and unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source. However, the flood must be a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is yours).”

Be aware that damage caused by wind-driven rain during a hurricane is not covered by flood insurance. When rain enters through a wind-damaged window or door, or some other part of your home that is damaged, the NFIP considers any resulting water damage to be caused by a windstorm, not caused by a flood. 

In most cases, the cause of the flooding will help determine whether or not your flood insurance policy will cover you. If sewer backup is the direct result of flooding, you’ll be covered by flood insurance, but if the backup is caused by some other problem, flood insurance will not cover you. 

If Flood Insurance Does Not Cover Hurricanes, What Will?

After a hurricane, flood insurance only covers flood damage. You’ll need to rely on your Mississippi homeowners insurance to cover other types of damage to your home. 

Most standard homeowners insurance policies in Mississippi usually cover windstorm damage directly caused by wind or hail. But you should still check your policy to make sure that it does not include a windstorm exclusion. If windstorm damage is excluded, you can obtain coverage through the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association, otherwise known as the “windpool.” Your independent insurance agent can help you. 

If you live in a hurricane-prone area, your Mississippi homeowners insurance may include a hurricane deductible or a wind deductible. A hurricane deductible is separate from your primary home insurance deductible, and is a percentage of your home’s insured value, rather than a predetermined flat dollar figure. 

Hurricane or windstorm deductibles apply only when your home has been damaged by a designated event. They are typically 1% to 5% of the home’s insured value. So if your home is insured for $250,000 and you have a 2% hurricane deductible, you would have to pay the first $6,250 to repair damage to your home before your insurance coverage kicks in. 

Several large insurers that write homeowners policies on the Gulf Coast have implemented deductibles as high as two percent of the value of the covered dwelling for perils such as wind and hurricane.

If you do not have homeowners insurance or if your coverage is insufficient, you might think you can rely on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other groups like the American Red Cross for disaster assistance after a hurricane. While some assistance may be available if you have no insurance or if your insurance doesn’t cover everything, relying on it to completely rebuild your home and your life is probably not a wise choice.

FEMA does provide assistance to individuals and families who have lost their homes as a result of a presidentially declared disaster. By law, FEMA assistance cannot duplicate the assistance you receive from your insurance company, but you may receive assistance for items not covered by insurance.

How Can I Prevent Hurricane Damage in Mississippi? 

Keeping your home and family safe during a hurricane takes a great deal of advance planning. It’s important to make and be ready to execute an emergency preparedness plan. And be sure to take steps to protect and secure your home to minimize the potential for damage. 

• Fortify your roof: Roof damage is the biggest reason for insurance claims after hurricanes. If your roof is damaged, water can get in and soak the insulation which can lead to ceiling collapse and damage to your furniture and other belongings. If your roof blows off entirely, the likelihood of your walls collapsing and complete destruction of your home is greater. 
• Fortify windows and doors: Broken windows and doors allow the wind and rain inside, damaging the interior of your home. In addition, once the wind gets inside, it will apply upward pressure on the roof increasing the likelihood of it blowing off. 
• Prepare your yard: Much of the damage caused by a hurricane is from flying debris. Common outdoor items can be picked up and thrown by the wind, so don’t forget to prepare your yard. 

How Can an Agent Help Protect My Mississippi Home from Hurricanes? 

Insurance experts recommend that you undergo a complete insurance checkup every year before hurricane season. A local Mississippi independent insurance agent can help you review your policy, understand your coverage and your deductibles, and can even help you prepare a home inventory before the storm hits.