US Homeowners Fear Hurricane Damage, but Often Lack Critical Protection

As the frequency and intensity of hurricanes continues to increase along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, American homeowners fear the damage these storms can cause, but aren’t taking all the steps they can to protect their property, according to a survey by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.

The national survey, conducted by The Risk Institute at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business, found homeowners worry about hurricanes more than almost any other extreme weather event, behind only earthquakes. Though 71 percent of U.S. homeowners have a moderate or greater worry their home will be damaged by extreme weather, only slightly more than half said they have specialized coverage against flooding or earthquakes. Flooding, and specifically high water caused by storm surge, remains among the costliest and most dangerous parts of hurricanes.

“Hurricane season is almost here, which means the homes and livelihoods of the people mutual insurers serve will once again be at risk,” said Neil Alldredge, president and CEO of NAMIC. “Standard homeowners and renters’ policies don’t cover flooding, so it’s imperative that homeowners assess their risk and understand how to protect their most valuable assets by obtaining flood insurance coverage.”

The 2023 hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with Colorado State University hurricane researchers predicting 13 named storms, including six hurricanes with two expected to reach Category 3 or higher. Sixty-five percent of respondents to the survey perceived hurricanes as a moderate to extreme risk, while 69 percent of participants felt the same about floods. During this hurricane preparedness week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is offering advice for homeowners about protecting their property.

NAMIC’s national survey of homeowners involved a sampling of 1,102 homeowners. The survey was conducted Through Amazon MTurk using Cloud Research from Aug. 11-17, 2022. Results carried a +/- 3 percent margin of error. Homeowners were in the 20-70 age range, with results split equally between genders.

Article Posted: 05.01.23
Last Updated: 05.01.23