Cover yourself by understanding your insurance ahead of time

Early in the hurricane season — well before the first storm begins to churn in the Gulf of Mexico — is the time to assess and evaluate your home insurance needs.

Many homeowners wait until a storm is imminent before they even think about their insurance, says Jack Powers, senior vice president for sales and public relations with Gulfshore Insurance, Inc. This procrastination can prove to be a costly — even catastrophic — mistake.

"You don't want to wait until a storm is bearing down on Florida," Mr. Powers says, pointing out that there are often waiting periods of 30 days for various types of coverage. "You should prepare now and look at your homeowner's policy and understand what coverages you have in place. Waiting until September could be too late."

A common misconception, according to Mr. Powers, is that there is an allinclusive "hurricane insurance" a homeowner can purchase as a package. Rather, he notes, it is the components added to the standard homeowner's package — such as protection against wind and water — that offer complete protection in the event of a hurricane.

"There is no such thing as 'hurricane insurance,'" Mr. Powers says.

Damage by wind and water are the most common claims following a hurricane, with flooding being the cause for "the vast majority of claims," Mr. Powers says.

Even if you live in an area that is not considered to be at high risk for flooding, Mr. Powers suggests a consultation with your agent. "Flood insurance is a pretty good bargain," he says. "It might be worth the few hundred dollars more for peace of mind."

Many homeowners believe that if their residence is damaged by a hurricane, they should wait until an adjuster arrives to make any repairs, Mr. Powers says. But that's incorrect, he continues, adding homeowners are expected to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.

"Let's say your roof is damaged and part of it is torn off," he explains. "You do not want to put off preventing further damage simply because an adjuster hasn't seen it. You do not want to make permanent repairs, but using plywood or a tarp, for example, to patch the roof and prevent further damage is expected."

During "widespread disasters," adjusters are spread thin and overworked, so it may take some time for one to reach you. In the interim, he advises, do all you can to keep your home safe from additional damage.

Also, take photographs of storm damage and keep receipts related to any temporary repairs, he adds.

Other tips from Mr. Powers:

• Prepare a personal disaster plan, which should include a thorough examination of all aspects of your insurance policy. If you have doubts or questions, contact your agent.

• If you are a seasonal resident, designate someone to check on your home in the event of a hurricane.

• Keep handy the telephone numbers of your insurance agent and the 800 information number for your insurance company.

— Bill Cromwell, Florida Weekly

Hurricane Terms

>>Cyclone: Rotating low-pressure systems such as tornadoes, hurricanes and typhoons. They spin counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

>>Direct hit: When a hurricane passes by a city's left hand side at the same distance as from the eye to the storm's fastest winds; and on the right hand side if it's at twice that distance.

>>Eye: The small, calm circle at the center of the storm in which suddenly benign weather is a harbinger of the worst to come.

>>Eyewall or wall cloud: A band or ring of cumulonimbus clouds that surround the eye and usually contain the most violent winds.

>>Fujiwhara Effect: The tendency of two nearby tropical cyclones to rotate cyclonically about each other.

>>Hurricane: The name given to tropical cyclones that reach speeds of 74 mph and occur in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean.

>>Hurricane Warning: An announcement that hurricane force winds (74 mph or more) are expected in your area in 24 hours or less.

>>Hurricane Watch: An announcement that conditions are possible within 36 hours.

>>Indirect Hit: Generally refers to locations that do not experience a direct hit, but do experience hurricane force winds or tides of four feet above normal.

>>Major Hurricane: Classified as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale, a hurricane that is potentially devastating to an area.

>>Saffir-Simpson Scale: A scale that measures a hurricane's intensity based on wind speed, barometric pressure, storm surge and damage potential.
. Category 1: winds of 74-95 mph
. Category 2: winds 96-110 mph
. Category 3: winds 111-130 mph
. Category 4: winds 131-155 mph
. Category 5: winds 155 mph or greater

>>Storm Surge: A dome of water pushed up onto the coastline by hurricane and tropical storm winds, causing a sudden rise in sea level. Storm surges can reach 25 feet and be 50 to 1,000 miles wide.

>>Tropical Depression: A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed is 38 mph or less. At 39 mph, it becomes a tropical storm, and at 74 mph, a hurricane.

>>Typhoon: The name given to tropical cyclones with speeds of 74 mph or more in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Source: The National Weather Service and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security