Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. The Grand Strand has been fortunate in recent years, but Florence, Dorian, and Isaias are reminders that we’re not immune. The time to review your insurance is before a storm is named — not after one is already forming in the Atlantic.
1. Know Your Hurricane Deductible
Most South Carolina coastal homeowners policies have a separate hurricane or named-storm deductible — typically 1%-5% of your dwelling coverage. On a $400,000 home, that’s $4,000-$20,000 out of pocket. Confirm this number now. It’s on your declarations page.
2. Verify Your Dwelling Coverage Reflects Current Rebuild Costs
Construction costs have risen significantly since 2020. If you haven’t updated your coverage limits recently, you may be underinsured. Ask your agent to run a replacement cost estimator — we do this for our clients every year.
3. Confirm You Have Flood Coverage
Your homeowners policy does not cover storm surge or flooding. If a hurricane pushes water into your home without a separate flood policy, that damage is entirely out of pocket. Call us before June 1 — there’s a 30-day waiting period on new NFIP flood policies.
4. Document Your Contents Now
Walk through your home with your phone and record a video inventory of your belongings. Store it in the cloud. If you need to file a contents claim, this documentation speeds up the process and helps you get a fair settlement.
5. Check Your Loss of Use Coverage
If a hurricane makes your home uninhabitable, loss of use coverage pays for temporary housing, meals, and related costs. Know your limit — it should be enough to cover months of living elsewhere, not just a few weeks.
6. Make Coverage Changes Before June 1
Most carriers restrict policy changes once a named storm enters the Gulf or Atlantic. Make any adjustments now, not when a storm is already forming.
Perry Insurance Group offers a free pre-hurricane season policy review. Call 843-663-4440 before June 1.
