HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hurricane season begins on Sunday, June 1 and the public is urged to be prepared. That includes packing a go-bag, making an emergency plan and reviewing your insurance policies. Homeowners must have a separate hurricane insurance policy to be protected.
“Understanding what your insurance covers before a disaster strikes is crucial. You want to be sure you have enough coverage to rebuild or replace what you’ve lost. Plus, a lot of consumers aren’t aware that most standard homeowners insurance policies don’t cover hurricane damage,” Jerry Bump, the Acting Insurance Commissioner for the State of Hawaii, said.
That means residents need more to protect themselves.
“Flooding—including storm surge and heavy rains—is also not covered by either homeowners or hurricane insurance,” Bump said. “To protect against flood damage, Hawaii homeowners need a separate flood insurance policy, often purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.”
Bump added that many homeowners assume their insurance will cover the full cost to rebuild.
“Unless the policy includes replacement cost coverage, they may only receive the depreciated value of their home or belongings. With Hawaii’s high construction costs, this gap can be financially devastating,” he said. “We recommend reaching out to your insurance agent for a full policy review. Confirm you have hurricane and flood coverage, and update your home’s replacement cost estimate. It’s also a good idea to take or update your home inventory, including video or pictures, so you have a record of your property and belongings. This will help you potentially speed up the claims process in the event of a loss.”
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