Hurricane Insurance
New York Homeowners insurance usually does not cover “hurricanes” per se, instead, the coverage or exclusion is based upon which element of a hurricane (such as wind or flooding) directly caused the damage.
These issues are not easily resolved and many legal contests continue over who is responsible for certain losses during Hurricane Katrina and many other storms. For example: a house was flooded by a storm surge and the New York homeowner claims that since the surge was produced by wind that the damage should be covered. The insurance company maintains that they do not pay for flood damage. Many of these types of cases – based upon definitions and impacts – remain unresolved.
Persons who buy New York properties in areas that might experience hurricanes should learn about the types of hazards that come with these storms and how they impact the specific location where they will live. History is often a very good teacher. For example: if a location was inundated by storm surge in the past then a future inundation will probably occur. Detailed guidance can be found at the websites listed at right.
