Wind damage vs. hurricane damage: what your Florida insurance actually covers
If a storm damages your roof in South Florida, the first question isn't "is it covered?" — it's "is this wind damage or hurricane damage?" Because on almost every Florida homeowners policy, those are two completely different things, with two different deductibles, and getting the classification wrong can cost you thousands.
## The core distinction
Wind damage is any damage caused by wind that is *not* part of a named storm — a summer thunderstorm, a cold-front squall line, a random 60 mph gust. It's covered under your standard "all perils" or "windstorm" coverage and subject to your regular deductible (usually a flat $1,000–$2,500).
Hurricane damage is damage caused by a storm that the National Hurricane Center has named, from the moment a hurricane watch is issued for any part of Florida until 72 hours after the watch/warning ends. It's covered under a separate hurricane deductible — required by Florida law and almost always calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage, typically 2%, 5%, or 10%.
That percentage is the part that surprises people. On a home insured for $500,000 with a 2% hurricane deductible, you're paying the first $10,000 out of pocket before insurance pays a dime.
## What's typically covered
Under either classification, a standard HO-3 Florida policy generally covers:
- Wind-lifted, cracked, or missing shingles and tiles - Torn or displaced underlayment exposed by wind - Impact damage from wind-driven debris (branches, patio furniture, a neighbor's satellite dish) - Interior water damage that results from a wind-created opening in the roof - Damage to gutters, soffits, fascia, and vents from wind
## What's typically NOT covered
- Wear and tear or age-related failure. If your 22-year-old shingle roof was already failing and the storm just finished it off, insurers will fight the claim. This is why age of roof matters so much in Florida. - Water intrusion without a wind-created opening. Rain that gets in because flashing was already bad, or because the underlayment was end-of-life, is a maintenance issue, not a storm claim. - Flood damage — including storm surge from a hurricane. That requires a separate NFIP or private flood policy. - Cosmetic-only damage on some newer policies. Some Florida carriers now exclude "matching" — meaning they'll pay to replace only the damaged slope, not the whole roof, even if the new tiles won't match. - Damage during a lapse in coverage or if the home was unoccupied beyond the policy's vacancy limit.
## The hurricane deductible trap
Three things routinely go wrong here:
1. Homeowners don't know their percentage. Check your declarations page today — look for "Hurricane Deductible" or "Named Storm Deductible." If it says "2% of Coverage A," multiply your dwelling coverage by 0.02. That's your out-of-pocket before the claim pays. 2. The deductible applies per season, not per storm on most Florida policies — but not all. Read the policy language. 3. A "wind" claim can get reclassified as "hurricane" by the adjuster if the damage occurred during the named-storm window, jumping your deductible from $1,500 to $15,000 overnight. Timing and documentation matter.
## How to file the right claim
Document the date and time of the damage as precisely as you can — photos with timestamps, doorbell/security footage, a written note. If the damage happened *before* the hurricane watch was issued or *after* it expired, that's a wind claim, not a hurricane claim.
Photograph everything before mitigation — every slipped tile, every ceiling stain, every piece of debris. Then tarp and dry things out to prevent further damage (which the policy requires you to do).
Get an independent roofer's inspection before the adjuster arrives. The adjuster works for the insurance company. A licensed local roofer with a written scope and photo report gives you leverage — especially on the wind-vs-hurricane call and on scope of damage.
File the claim yourself, directly with your carrier, using the phone number on your policy. Do not let anyone file it for you without you understanding exactly what's being submitted.
Be extremely cautious with AOB contracts. Assignment of Benefits transfers your claim rights to a contractor. Florida has tightened AOB rules, but the safest posture is not to sign one at all.
## Roof age is the invisible factor
Florida insurers are non-renewing policies on roofs older than 15–20 years, and even before non-renewal, they're increasingly denying claims on aging roofs by attributing damage to "pre-existing conditions." If your roof is over 15 years old, get it inspected *before* hurricane season — a documented "good condition" report from a licensed roofer is one of the best things you can hand your insurer if you have to file a claim later.
## Free inspection — before or after the storm
We do free roof inspections across Miami-Dade and Broward, with a written photo report you can hand directly to your insurer. If you've just had damage, we'll document it properly for your claim. If you're pre-storm, we'll tell you what's likely to fail and what your insurer will want to see.
Call (305) 561-9514 or [book a free inspection](/contact).