Hurricane Season 2025 Commences: Guidelines for Homeowners to Get Ready
Gear up for the 2025 hurricane season, poised to be a doozy! Meteorologists at NOAA predict an 50-60% chance of an above-average season, with 13 to 19 named storms brewing, and as many as 5 jumping to major hurricane status - category 3 and up. Warm ocean temperatures, a heightened West African Monsoon, and neutral El Niño and La Niña conditions create the perfect storm (pun intended) for an action-packed hurricane season.
As Ken Graham, NOAA's National Weather Service Director, warns, "In my 30 years at the National Weather Service, we've never had more advanced models and warning systems in place to monitor the weather. This outlook is a call to action: be prepared."
With the unpredictable nature of hurricanes, it's essential to brace yourself — whether you live on the coast or inland. The 2024 hurricane season served as a stark reminder that inland homeowners are not immune to storm damages. Here's what you need to know about preparing for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season:
You're not alone — Inland homeowners face risk too
Last season, it became clear that all homeowners need to be storm-ready. According to Caitlin Fine, Cotality's director of forensic meteorology, "Your risk from hurricanes can extend far inland from the landfall location." In fact, Cotality's Hurricane Risk 2025 report found approximately 33.1 million residential properties with a moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage, with a total reconstruction cost value of a whopping $11.7 trillion.
Home insurance deductible
The destructive Hurricane Helene in 2024 was a game-changer. Although it wreaked havoc on coastal communities, it also triggered a "one in one thousand year rain event" inland, notably in North Carolina, northeastern Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia, delivering nearly annual rainfall amounts in just a few days. Sadly, many homes in these areas were not located in federally designated flood zones and did not carry a flood insurance policy. As a result, Cotality estimates a staggering $30.5 to $47.5 billion gap between insured and uninsured losses from Hurricane Helene.
When your home is damaged by something covered in your policy, you'll usually need to meet your deductible to get the repairs started. You can find your deductible on your policy declarations page.
Importantly, hurricanes can spawn tornadoes, which don't always stick to the initial path. In 2024, Hurricane Beryl, which hit the Gulf Coast, was responsible for an estimated 68 tornadoes across the U.S., reaching as far north as Ontario.
Storm-proof your home
Named storm deductible
Shielding your home, property, and wallet from the potential havoc of hurricanes is within reach. Here's what you need to do:
In 19 states and in Washington, D.C., home insurance policies have separate deductibles for losses caused by named storms, like hurricanes. Named storm deductibles are calculated as percentages, usually between 1 -10 percent of your total dwelling limit.
Sweat the small stuff — Keep a home inventory
Meticulously document your personal belongings, including furniture, electronics, and valuables through photos or videos. Recording serial numbers adds an extra layer of protection to ensure ownership and facilitate replacement. Store your records in a secure location, like a fireproof safe or secure online storage service.
Wind deductible
Know what's covered — Insurance 101
If you have a separate wind insurance policy, you'll need to meet your wind insurance deductible to get those repairs covered. If wind coverage is included in your home insurance policy, you won't need to worry about paying a wind deductible.
Review your homeowner's and flood insurance policies to understand what's covered and what's not, especially when it comes to flood damage. Know your deductibles, as these can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Adjust your policies as needed to ensure adequate coverage for your property and belongings.
Make a battle plan — Create an emergency plan
Flood deductible
Develop a family evacuation plan, including evacuation routes, emergency contact numbers, and a meeting point in case family members get separated. Stock up on essentials, such as water, non-perishable food, batteries, flashlights, a first aid kit, and cash, and keep a battery-powered radio handy to stay updated on weather conditions and evacuation instructions.
Flood insurance policies typically come with their own deductibles.
By following these tips, homeowners can weather the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season safely and securely, minimizing potential damages and helping ensure a speedy recovery.
- The Hurricane Risk 2025 report by Cotality highlights that 33.1 million residential properties have a moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage, with a total reconstruction cost value of $11.7 trillion, signifying the importance of understanding the impact of hurricanes on health-and-wellness and the necessity for homeowners to prepare for potential damages, especially those inland.
- To minimize potential damages during the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, homeowners can take proactive steps such as keeping a home inventory, understanding what's covered in their insurance policies, adjusting their policies as necessary, creating an emergency plan, and being aware of their deductibles, which can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars for wind, flood, and named storm deductibles, emphasizing the significance of being prepared for both health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise in the face of an unpredictable hurricane season.
