Hurricanes are a type of tropical cyclone or severe tropical storm. Hurricanes 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, including the state of Florida, are susceptible to hurricanes.

Whether you live near the Gulf Coast or well inland, Mississippi residents need to know what to do before, during, and after a hurricane in order to protect their homes and their families. Hurricanes don’t only affect homes right along the coast; Hurricane Katrina in 2005 affected all 82 counties in Mississippi in some way, from flooding and tornadoes to high winds and power outages. 

What to Do before and after a Hurricane

Hurricanes and tropical storms are simply part of life in Mississippi, so knowing what to do before and after a storm is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your home. 

From an insurance perspective, there are several actions you should take to make sure you are ready for hurricane season in Mississippi. According to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, there are a variety of steps you can take before and after a storm to minimize the damage and begin your recovery. 

Before the Storm

• Check your Mississippi homeowners insurance policy to understand your hurricane and windstorm coverage and how any special deductibles might work. 
• Review the coverage limits on your home and valuables to make sure you have sufficient coverage.
• Determine whether your policy will pay replacement cost or actual cash value in the event of a loss.
• Find out whether your policy will pay for additional living expenses to cover the cost of hotels and meals should your home become uninhabitable.
• Prepare a detailed home inventory and include photos and video showing your possessions. It is the best thing to do to ensure you are properly reimbursed for your belongings if you have a loss. If you have a home inventory, you will be able to verify your losses for tax purposes and your claim will likely be settled faster with less red tape. 

After the Storm

• Do a damage inventory if your home sustains damage from a hurricane or tropical storm. When the storm passes, photograph or videotape any damage that your home has sustained, if possible. 
• Report any damage to your home or property to your insurance agent as soon as possible. Keep track of the special reference number for your claim that your insurance company will issue to you.
• Make sure that the adjuster assigned to you is properly licensed. Ask to see their identification.
• Make any needed emergency repairs to your home as required by your policy. Be careful of structural damage, escaping gas, or fallen wires.
• Hire only licensed and reputable contractors for repair work.
• Don’t throw away damaged items or make any repairs until your insurance adjuster has reviewed them. You can, however, make any repairs that are necessary to protect your home and personal property from sustaining any additional damage (e.g., cover broken windows). If you must make some temporary repairs, be sure to record your expenses and save receipts. 

How to Prepare Your House for a Hurricane

Preparing before the storm hits is one of the best ways to prevent or minimize the damage that a hurricane can cause.

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. 

Here are some things you can do to help fortify your existing roof:

• Nail or caulk loose roof tiles or shingles
• Check for rust and loose anchoring on metal roofs
• Install hurricane straps
• Brace the ends of all gables
• Install a backup water barrier under the roof cover

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. 

Hurricane-resistant window and door coverings can include various types of shutters, screens, panels, and sheeting as well as impact resistant windows and doors. You need to protect windows, sliding patio doors, entry doors, and garage doors. 

For windows, permanent storm shutters offer the best protection. If that is not the right option for you, simply taping the windows will not work. Use 5/8-inch thick marine plywood cut to fit and ready to install to board up your windows in advance of a storm. 

Prepare Your Yard

Much of the damage cause 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. 

• Keep trees and shrubs well trimmed
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts
• Bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans, and anything else that is not tied down

How to Prepare Your Apartment for a Hurricane

Living in an apartment presents some unique challenges. You not only have to prepare your own living space, but in some ways you’re equally reliant on your landlord and your neighbors to work together to make sure that everyone takes the necessary precautions. 

Your apartment home should be in good condition and should be a safe place for you to shelter. The following tips from FEMA will help you prepare your Mississippi apartment for a hurricane. 

• Bring in any outdoor furniture, planters, and other items from patios and balconies
• Get hurricane shutters or panels for your sliding glass doors and windows
• Identify your safest room (often an interior bedroom, bathroom, or hallway) and use that for your shelter 

Additional steps that Mississippi apartment residents can take to stay safe before, during, and after a hurricane include:

• Stock up on supplies
• Steer clear of windows
• Get to know your neighbors
• Establish an emergency fund
• Park your car in a safe area

It’s important for renters to regularly evaluate their renters insurance policies in order to understand their hurricane coverage and make any necessary changes. 

How to Prepare Your Car for a Hurricane 

With so much to do to prepare for a hurricane, it’s possible that you’ll forget to make sure that your vehicle is safe and secure. Here are some tips for how to prepare your car for a hurricane in Mississippi. 

• Fill up the gas tank or charge the battery: Whether you’ve got a traditional gas-powered vehicle or an electric, make sure it has enough fuel or a charged battery before the storm. Top off some extra gas cans too.  
• Complete routine maintenance: Check your oil, wipers and tires — now is a great time to make sure your car is in good working order. Check your oil, wipers, and tires, and make sure you take care of any outstanding maintenance concerns. 
• Park somewhere safe: Parking your car safely in your garage is the best way to go if you have that option. You might want to park facing out so you can make an easy exit and more easily avoid debris after the storm.
• Take photos and protect your documents: Take photos of your vehicle inside and out before the hurricane to make it easier to file any damage claims. Put all of your ownership, registration, and insurance papers in a waterproof container along with all of your other important documents.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage in Mississippi?

For Mississippi homeowners, hurricanes are a real cause of concern, and they also make insuring your home more complicated and unfortunately more expensive in some cases.

Hurricanes can cause a variety of different types of damage to your home. The most common damage to your home from a hurricane or tropical storm are caused by:

• Wind 
• Heavy rainfall
• Flooding
• Storm surge
• Tornadoes
• Sewer backup 

Coverage for Wind Damage

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 2% of the value of the covered dwelling for perils such as wind and hurricane.

Coverage for Flood Damage

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. 

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 home or apartment long before the storm hits. 

How Can an Agent Help Me Prepare My House for a Hurricane?

Insurance experts recommend that you undergo a complete insurance checkup every year before hurricane season. Your Mississippi homeowners insurance may contain a separate hurricane deductible that is a percentage of your home’s insured value, rather than a flat dollar figure like your primary insurance deductible.

Your 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. A local independent agent understands Mississippi residents and how to help before and after a hurricane hits.