No single type of insurance covers all the damage a hurricane can cause. "Hurricane insurance" in Georgia generally refers to a combination of policies that work together — typically standard home insurance, flood insurance, and, for some high-risk homes, separate windstorm coverage.
Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane damage in Georgia?
Georgia home insurance covers many hurricane-related risks, but not all. Wind damage to your roof, windows, and walls is generally covered under a standard home insurance policy (also called an HO-3 policy). However, flood damage is a common exclusion, and properties in especially high-risk areas, like oceanfront homes on Georgia's barrier islands, may also have wind damage excluded.
For flood protection, homeowners may be able to add coverage (called an endorsement) to their existing policy. Otherwise, you can purchase a standalone policy through a private insurer or the federally backed National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Your declarations page — the summary document that outlines your coverage details — is the best place to confirm what your policy covers and where gaps in coverage may exist. You can likely access your dec page online via your insurer’s website or app, or you may have received a hard copy by mail.
Can't find home insurance in Georgia? Here are your options
For higher-risk properties where some insurers exclude wind, coverage may still be available through surplus lines carriers — insurers that aren't licensed in Georgia but are authorized to cover risks the standard market won't take on. Surplus lines policies can fill an important gap, but they typically come with less consumer protection than standard policies and may cost more.
Georgia also has a FAIR Plan through the Georgia Underwriting Association, which provides basic coverage as a last resort for homeowners who can't secure a policy through the standard market.
Wind and hail deductibles in Georgia
A deductible is the amount you're responsible for paying out of pocket before your insurance covers the rest of an approved claim, up to your policy limits.
If you live in a coastal Georgia county (such as Chatham, Glynn, Camden, Bryan, Liberty, or McIntosh), your home insurance policy may include a separate wind and hail deductible that applies in place of your standard deductible for wind-related claims. Unlike a standard deductible, which is typically a flat dollar amount, a wind and hail deductible is usually calculated as a percentage of your home's insured value — typically between 1% and 5% of your dwelling coverage limit (also called your Coverage A limit).
For example, with a 2% wind and hail deductible and $350,000 in dwelling coverage, you'd be responsible for the first $7,000 of any wind-related claim. You can find your dwelling coverage limit on your declarations page. Georgia law requires insurers to clearly disclose any percentage-based deductibles in your policy documents, so that's also a good place to confirm the deductible that applies to your policy. Your insurance agent can also answer questions as needed.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood and storm surge damage in Georgia?
Flood damage — including storm surge, overflowing waterways, and water that enters your home from the ground up — is excluded from standard home insurance policies. For flood protection, homeowners can purchase a policy add-on called an endorsement or a separate flood insurance policy through a private insurer or the NFIP.
If your home insurer offers flood coverage, bundling both policies with the same carrier can simplify your policy management. Plus, private flood insurance is generally more flexible than NFIP coverage and may offer more competitive rates (called premiums in industry-speak).
Key differences between private and NFIP policies include:
|
Policy feature |
Private flood insurance |
NFIP flood insurance |
|
Waiting period before coverage takes effect |
As little as 10–14 days (varies by company) |
30 days in most cases |
|
Coverage limits |
Vary by carrier; generally can match your primary home insurance policy limits |
Coverage capped at $250K for the dwelling and $100K for your belongings |
|
How the value of your personal belongings is calculated |
May offer replacement cost value (RCV), which pays to replace damaged items at today's prices, or actual cash value (ACV), which factors in depreciation |
Contents are covered at actual cash value (ACV) only, so your payout reflects what your belongings were worth at the time of loss — not what they'd cost to replace |
Both private flood insurance and NFIP policies are widely available options worth comparing before you buy — coverage, limits, and pricing can vary significantly. Either way, the key is to shop early. Most NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect, and private policies may have waiting periods, as well. So don't wait until a storm is on the horizon to secure coverage.
What is the Georgia Underwriting Association?
The Georgia Underwriting Association (GUA) is the organization that manages Georgia’s FAIR Plan, also known as the state’s insurer or last resort. It offers coverage for homeowners who are unable to secure coverage in the private insurance market.
Homeowners with coastal properties in the highest-risk counties for windstorms and hail may need to secure coverage through the GUA. GUA policies tend to be more expensive with more restrictive coverage, so it's worth exhausting private market options first. One thing to be aware of: the GUA has a hurricane moratorium, meaning new applications may be paused when the National Hurricane Center is tracking a storm in the forecast.
How to lower your hurricane insurance costs in Georgia
Strengthening your home to better withstand hurricanes is one of the best ways to reduce your Georgia insurance costs, but it’s not the only strategy to save. Here are some other tactics.
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Update your roof: New roofs, especially impact-resistant ones, reduce your home’s risk profile in insurers’ eyes. Some roof upgrades even qualify for discounts. For example, Georgia law requires insurers to offer rate reductions on the wind portion of your homeowners policy if you build or retrofit your roof to IBHS FORTIFIED Home standards.
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Install storm shutters and reinforced doors: These help mitigate hurricane damage at some of your home’s most vulnerable points and could earn you insurance savings.
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Raise your deductible(s): Choosing higher deductible amounts means paying less for your policies. However, be sure to select a deductible amount you could easily afford in the event of claimable damage.
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Bundle home and auto: Buying multiple policies from the same insurer usually yields a meaningful discount. Home and auto is the most common bundle, but you may also be able to bundle home with life insurance, flood insurance, landlord insurance, or other types of coverage.
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Shop early: Buying hurricane insurance in Georgia long before you need it makes sure you don’t get stuck without coverage during a waiting period and gives you the breathing room to compare quotes from several different insurers.
How to mitigate hurricane damage to your home
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Inspect and reinforce your roof. Check for loose shingles, damaged flashing (the metal strips that seal joints around chimneys and vents), and other signs of wear. Hurricane clips and straps — metal fasteners that anchor your roof structure to your home's walls — are one of the most impactful structural upgrades you can make for storm protection.
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Secure windows and doors. Install impact-resistant windows and storm shutters. If a storm is approaching, plywood panels can be used to board up exposed openings, and a bracing kit can help keep garage doors intact during high winds.
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Clear gutters and drainage paths. Clogged gutters can force water under your roofline, and blocked drainage around your property can increase the risk of water pooling near your foundation. Keeping gutters clear and drainage paths open gives flood water a clear path away from your home.
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Trim trees. Falling limbs are a leading cause of roof and window damage during hurricanes. Regularly trimming trees and removing dead ones reduces the risk of storm damage to your home.
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Elevate or flood-proof important equipment. Move your HVAC system (heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment), electrical panel, and water heater above expected flood levels if possible. If your home has a crawl space, flood vents — small openings that allow water to flow through rather than build up pressure against your foundation — can help reduce structural damage during a flood.
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Document your belongings before the storm. Walk through your home and photograph or video your belongings. Keep receipts for high-value items when possible. Store this information in the cloud or at a secondary location so it's accessible if you need to file a claim after the storm.
Frequently asked questions
Can you just buy hurricane insurance?
No. Hurricane insurance does not exist as a standalone policy. You will need to purchase a homeowners insurance policy and pair it with flood insurance and windstorm insurance (if wind damage is excluded by your primary policy).
What is the 33-3-28 law in Georgia?
O.C.G.A. § 33-3-28 requires insurers to disclose policy details, including coverage limits, within 60 days of a written request. If you’re navigating a hurricane claim — or any home insurance claim — it can help you quickly assess the insurer’s financial responsibility in the situation.
How expensive is flood insurance in Georgia?
Flood insurance costs in Georgia vary widely depending on your location, home characteristics, and other flood risk factors. The median cost of flood insurance for a single-family home in Georgia is $760 per year, based on the latest data from the NFIP. However, private flood insurance may be cheaper, is typically more customizable, and may go into effect sooner than an NFIP policy.
