Do You Know What Your Hurricane Deductible Is?

After the hurricanes of 2004 that devastated parts of Central Florida, most insurance companies changed their policies, adding a separate deductible for any damage due to a hurricane.

The majority of Florida homeowners now have a 2% deductible but there are some that are as high as 5%. So, if a home is valued at $300,000, the homeowner may have as much as a $6000 deductible - much more than may be expected.

How can you be prepared for the upcoming tropical storms that may be headed our way?

• Check your home for any preventative maintenance that you can do. This might include trimming or removing trees and securing outdoor items such as basketball hoops and porch furniture.

• Call your insurance company and find out what your deductible is. If you need to make changes, keep in mind that it generally takes 30 days for new rates to take affect.

Tropical storm Fay, with it's heavy rains and occasional winds reminded me that I had been putting off having a tree cut down that threatened my pool screen and my home. It's money that I'm not looking forward to spending, but it will be a fraction of what my deductible will be if it does come down during a hurricane.

More on Preparing for a Hurricane.