Does Renters Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

By the Mercury Team

Renters insurance can help cover some types of hurricane damage, like wind-related destruction to your personal belongings, but it doesn’t cover everything. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, it’s important to understand what your renters insurance does and doesn’t cover so you can be fully prepared before the next storm rolls in.

What Does Renters Insurance Typically Cover During a Hurricane?

If you live in a hurricane-prone area, it’s a good idea to know what your renters insurance actually covers before a storm hits. Here are some of the key benefits of renters insurance during a hurricane.

Wind Damage to Personal Belongings

High winds are one of the biggest risks during a hurricane. If strong gusts break windows or tear part of the roof off and your belongings get damaged, renters insurance may help cover the cost to repair or replace items like your furniture, clothes, and electronics—up to your policy’s limits and minus any deductible.

Damage from Falling Objects or Flying Debris

Hurricanes can send tree branches, patio furniture, and other debris flying. If something crashes through your window or roof and damages your personal items, renters insurance may step in to help cover the damage. The same goes for objects like ceiling tiles or fixtures that fall inside your apartment because of storm conditions.

Loss of Use (Additional Living Expenses)

If your rental becomes uninhabitable due to hurricane damage, your renters insurance may cover your temporary living expenses. This is called “loss of use” or “additional living expenses” coverage, and it typically includes hotel bills, meals, and other necessary expenses while you’re temporarily displaced.

What’s Typically Not Covered in Hurricane-Related Damage?

While renters insurance can offer important protection during a hurricane, it doesn’t cover everything. Here are a few common exclusions:

Flood Damage

Does renters insurance cover flood damage? No, flood damage isn’t covered under a standard renters policy. That includes water from storm surges, overflowing rivers, or heavy rain that enters your home from the ground up. If your apartment floods during a hurricane, you’ll need separate flood insurance to get coverage, which you can get through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Damage to the Building Itself

If the roof leaks or the walls take a hit during the storm, that’s not your responsibility as a renter. The landlord’s insurance should cover any damage to the building’s structure. Your renters policy focuses on your personal belongings and living expenses if you need to move out temporarily, not on fixing the actual building.

Damage from Neglect or Lack of Maintenance

Renters insurance also won’t cover damage that happens because of negligence. For example, if you left your windows wide open during a storm or ignored a slow leak for weeks, your claim might be denied. Insurance companies expect you to take basic precautions to protect your space and your belongings.

What Coverage Options Should Renters Consider?

A standard renters insurance policy offers great protection, but it may not be enough. It’s worth looking into a few additional renter insurance hurricane coverage options that can fill in the gaps, including:

Windstorm Riders

In certain coastal states, especially in hurricane-prone areas like, Texas or parts of the Gulf Coast, wind damage from hurricanes may be excluded from a basic renters insurance policy. That’s where a windstorm rider comes in. It’s an add-on that helps cover damage from high winds, including those from hurricanes and tropical storms.

Depending on where you live and your insurance provider, you might need to add this rider separately or purchase it through a state windstorm insurance pool. For example, Texas residents can go through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) for wind coverage.

Floods Insurance Add-Ons

As mentioned earlier, renters insurance doesn’t cover flooding. You’ll need separate flood insurance to protect your belongings from this type of water damage. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers policies for renters that cover personal property up to $100,000, so it’s worth considering if you live in a flood zone.

Personal Property Replacement Coverage

Most basic renters insurance policies cover your belongings at their actual cash value (ACV), which means depreciation is factored in. For example, if your five-year-old laptop gets ruined in a hurricane, you’d only get what it’s worth today, not what it would cost to buy a new one.

Upgrading to replacement cost coverage means you’ll get the full amount to buy new items if your items get damaged or destroyed. It’s a simple upgrade that can really help you bounce back faster.

Scheduled Valuables Coverage

If you own anything especially valuable, like jewelry, collectibles, or musical instruments, your standard policy might not fully cover them. Most renters insurance has payout limits for certain types of items. With scheduled valuables coverage, you can specifically list those high-ticket belongings and make sure they’re insured for their full value.

How the Renters Insurance Claims Process Works After a Hurricane

Need to file a claim after a hurricane? Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Document the Damage

As soon as it’s safe, grab your phone and start taking photos or videos of anything that was damaged, such as your furniture, electronics, clothes, and other personal items. Try to be as thorough as possible. This documentation will help your insurance company understand what you lost and how much it’s worth.

Step 2: Check Your Temporary Housing Benefits

If your apartment or rental home becomes uninhabitable due to hurricane damage, your renters insurance policy may include loss of use coverage. This benefit helps cover expenses like hotel stays, meals, laundry, and even extra transportation costs while your home is being repaired or replaced.

Just be sure to keep all your receipts because your insurer will need them to reimburse you.

Step 3: Work with the Mercury’s Claims Team

Once you’ve got your damage documented, it’s time to file your claim. You can do this online, through the Mercury Insurance app, or by giving the claims team a call. After that, a Mercury claims rep will walk you through the next steps. They’ll answer your questions, keep you in the loop, and help move your claim forward as quickly as possible.

Expert Insight

“We always advise renters to talk to their agent about what’s covered—and just as importantly, what’s not,” says Bonnie Lee, VP, HO Claims

Hurricane Preparedness for Renters

If you rent your home and live in a storm-prone area, a little planning now can save you a lot of stress later. Here are some hurricane preparedness tips to consider:

Build an Emergency Kit

Putting together an emergency kit is one of the best hurricane safety precautions you can take. Here’s what you should include:

• Bottled water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days)
• Non-perishable food and snacks
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• First-aid supplies
• A multi-tool or basic toolkit
• Phone chargers (including battery packs or solar chargers)
• Any necessary medications
• Personal hygiene items
• Document backups
• Inventory of personal items

If you have pets, make sure to include food, water, and copies of vaccination records for them as well.

Backup Important Documents

Storms can wipe out important paperwork, too. Before hurricane season, take a few minutes to scan or snap photos of key documents like your lease, driver’s license, car insurance info, and bank records.

Upload them to cloud storage (like Google Drive or Dropbox), or email them to yourself so they’re easy to access, even if your phone or computer is damaged. Also, keep paper copies in a waterproof folder or zip bag, just in case.

Create a Home Inventory

If you ever need to file an insurance claim, having a home inventory of your personal belongings (with photos, estimated values, and receipts when possible) can help speed up the process and ensure a fair payout. Consider using a mobile app or spreadsheet to track everything.

Why Renters Insurance Is a Smart Move in Hurricane Zones

Here are some of the reasons why you need renters insurance if you live in a hurricane zone:

• Protection for peace of mind: Renters insurance can offer protection from hurricane-related damage, but it may also help cover losses from fire, theft, vandalism, and other perils. It may even help pay for a temporary place to stay if your home becomes unlivable.
• Affordable premiums: Renters insurance is one of the most affordable types of coverage available, with average monthly costs ranging from $15 to $20. That’s a small investment for the financial protection it provides during a disaster.
• Customizable for your location: You can tailor your coverage to match the risks in your area, and even add options like windstorm riders and flood protection.

Get Covered Before the Storm Hits

Don’t wait until the next storm is in the forecast. Contact Mercury Insurance today to explore your coverage options and customize a policy that suits your needs. We’re here to help you stay protected—before, during, and after the storm.

Contact us today for a fast, free quote!