Does Renters Insurance Cover Storm Damage?

Does renters insurance cover hurricane damage?

Your renters insurance may cover hurricane damage to your belongings if the damage is the result of a covered peril, such as damage caused by wind, hail, lightning, fire, and certain types of water damage. Hurricane damage to the structure of your apartment building or rental home is the responsibility of your rental office or landlord and won’t be covered by a renters policy. If you’re unable to live in your apartment or rental home because of damage from a hurricane, your renters policy’s loss of use coverage may pay for you to live elsewhere while your residence is being repaired.

2 to readUpdated September 21, 2023

Explore Progressive's editorial standards for Answers articles to find out why you can trust the insurance information you find here.

How your renters policy may cover damage from a hurricane

Personal property coverage on your renters policy may pay to repair or replace items damaged by a hurricane, up to the limits of your policy and minus any deductible. If your unit or rental house is uninhabitable due to damage from strong winds, lightning, hail, or fire, your policy’s loss of use coverage may help cover living expenses incurred, including a hotel stay and meals, up to your coverage limits.

Does renters insurance cover natural disasters?

The question isn’t whether your insurance covers storm damage as the result of a natural disaster, but what caused the resulting damage. Your renters insurance may pay to repair or replaced personal property damaged by a covered peril, including high-winds, hail, lightning and/or fire. In some cases, water damage that isn’t the direct result of high water/and or flooding may also be covered as a named peril by your renters insurance.

Does renters insurance cover flood damage?

Due to the nature of hurricanes and tornados, and the types of weather that may result from them, any of the damage may be covered as a covered peril due to severe weather . But keep in mind, flooding and/or flood damage will not be covered by your renters insurance policy. Rather, a separate flood insurance policy may cover damage to your belongings from flooding.

Learn about flood insurance for renters and what flood insurance covers.

Can I get renters insurance before a hurricane?

If a hurricane watch has already been issued for your area, you may have difficulty getting a renters insurance policy. Hurricanes are sometimes forecasted weeks in advance, and insurance companies often won’t write new policies for homeowners or tenants in the affected zip codes.