The Hurricane season in 2024 has been extremely wrathful and led to tragic loss of human lives and caused havoc in states like Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia.
According to science.org, the recent hurricanes Helene and Milton have caused an estimated combined damage of over $300 billion in just two weeks.
Hence, the hurricanes have left these states in utter chaos and brough about a lot of damage.
Luckily, the state of Louisiana has been spared from this calamity so far considering that it is also one of the most vulnerable states when it comes it hurricanes and storms.
However, this situation shouldn’t be overlooked and instead be considered a caveat to stay prepared against all kinds of natural disasters in advance to minimize the damage in case something unfortunate strikes.
So, in this article we explore some facts about hurricane insurance in Louisiana that you should stay vigilant and informed about as a resident of the state.
Hurricane Insurance in Louisiana: Is there Hurricane Insurance in Louisiana?
Most homeowners and residents immediately stumble upon an important question as soon as they begin the search to stay covered against hurricanes and other natural disasters.
“Can you buy hurricane insurance as an individual policy? Or “Does a policy only dedicated to hurricane insurance exist in the market?”
Long answer short, no. There is no single policy known as hurricane insurance. It comes combined with your home insurance policy. Or you must buy separate policies against two major sources of hurricane, wind, and water in the form of flood insurance and windstorm insurance as additions to your home insurance policy.
What Does Hurricane Insurance Cover in Louisiana?
Hurricane Insurance in Louisiana covers against:
- Your personal belongings
- Structures on your property
- Temporary relocation costs
Does Home Insurance Policy Cover Hurricane Damage?
A standard home insurance policy does not cover flood insurance. You have to buy it separately from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private market.
Standard homeowners’ policies can cover damage caused by wind and hurricanes. In Louisiana, hurricane insurance is not separate from home insurance. While you are covered against hurricane damages in Louisiana through your home insurance policy, you can expect to pay high home insurance premium as the state is prone to hurricanes and natural disasters like flooding and storms.
How much does Hurricane Insurance Cost in Louisiana?
As discussed earlier, while home insurance does cover hurricane insurance in the state of Louisiana, the premium bills can rack up quickly to jaw-dropping amounts.
Louisiana being a coastal area, nature is not always kind to this state resulting in exposure to frequent hurricanes and flooding.
As a result, the residents of Louisiana have to pay an average $2038 per year for home insurance which covers hurricane insurance as well.
Does Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage in Baton Rouge Louisiana?
We often get this question from the residents of Baton Rouge Louisiana and understandably so as it is the capital of the state.
The answer is simple. Whether you live in Baton Rouge or any other city in Louisiana, the state laws apply to all the residents in any area within the jurisdiction of the state.
And as per the state laws, yes insurance will cover hurricane damage in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. More specifically, your home insurance policy will cover the hurricane damage in Baton Rouge. However, you can expect to pay a higher home insurance premium as Louisiana is prone to hurricanes.
However, you may have to get extra flood insurance to stay covered against flooding damage in the state.
Also, read the hurricane deductible laws and regulations in Louisiana on the government websites.
Here are some resources that you might find useful:
Louisiana Hurricane Resource Center
Louisiana Storm Damage Resource
