A hurricane deductible is another name for a named storm deductible: a separate, usually higher deductible that applies only when damage comes from a hurricane or a storm the National Weather Service has officially named. Carriers and policies use the two terms interchangeably.
How it works
Unlike a standard flat-dollar deductible, a hurricane deductible is typically written as a percentage of your dwelling coverage amount rather than a fixed dollar figure. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), "percentages can range from 1% to 10% of the value of the insured home," and it applies "only when a named storm causes damage," not to ordinary claims, which still use your standard deductible. Nineteen states, including Georgia and Alabama, currently allow some form of hurricane or named storm deductible on coastal or catastrophe-exposed homes.
When it applies
It applies only once a storm is officially named and, in many policies, for a defined window around that storm. It does not apply to non-storm wind, hail, fire, theft, or other covered perils, which fall under your regular deductible instead.
Related terms
For the full mechanics (how the percentage is calculated, real dollar examples, and which Georgia coastal counties commonly carry one), see the complete guide: named storm deductible. Related: wind and hail deductible, deductible. See also homeowners insurance.
Sources
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), "What Are Named Storm Deductibles?" content.naic.org/article/consumer-insight-what-are-named-storm-deductibles, accessed 2026-07-25.