Hurricanes have been known to hit South Carolina. If you're renting an apartment or home and a hurricane causes damage, are you responsible, or is the landlord? Understanding the coverages you can get with renters insurance can help in this situation.

To secure renters insurance and any other protection you need from hurricanes, a South Carolina independent insurance agent can help. Agents can answer your questions about when you're protected and where you could be left exposed. 

Who’s Responsible If a Hurricane Damages Your Apartment?

If a hurricane were to damage the apartment you're renting, you would be responsible for any of the damage to your personal property inside the apartment. The landlord would be responsible for any damage to the home's structure, built-in appliances, and the surrounding property.

Your landlord should have coverage for everything outside your apartment building, amenities, and things outside. But it's your responsibility to have coverage for your personal property, and damage from hurricanes is not covered under standard renters insurance. 

In this case, you would need hurricane coverage. Your agent can walk you through your policy options and coverages to help you get lined up with the right protection.

What If I Don’t Have Hurricane Insurance?

Renters insurance coverage is based on specific types of damage outlined in the policy. Hurricanes are not a listed peril, but different elements resulting from a hurricane are covered in renters insurance. A renters policy is likely to cover non-water damage from wind, hail, fire, and lightning. But flooding would not be covered under a standard renters policy.

If you only had a renters insurance policy, you would only get coverage for damage that resulted from a listed peril. A more comprehensive type of coverage would be needed to get additional flood and hurricane coverage to protect you from a hurricane and not just these specific elements of a hurricane. 

Without the right coverage, you'd be left paying for any damage to your personal property out of pocket.

How Does Hurricane Insurance Work in South Carolina?

Since damage from hurricanes and windstorms is excluded in most standard renters and homeowners insurance, it can be purchased as an add-on coverage. With a standard renters insurance policy, including hurricane coverage, you'd be protected in the following ways from a hurricane:

• Personal property coverage: If your personal property, such as your furniture, was damaged by a hurricane, you'd be covered up to your policy's limits. 
• Loss of use coverage: If you're temporarily displaced from the apartment or home you're renting because of a covered peril, this helps pay for expenses above and beyond your everyday living expenses.

Renters insurance also includes liability coverage and medical payments coverage, but neither is for events directly related to a hurricane. 

One thing that renters insurance does not cover is damage from natural floodwaters. Since flooding is a common aftermath of hurricanes, it's recommended that you speak with your agent about getting flood insurance coverage.

Another essential thing to note about hurricane coverage is that it has a different deductible than typical insurance. Hurricane deductibles are not a flat rate, but rather are defined in terms of a percentage of the loss. This could result in higher out-of-pocket costs if you need to file a claim, so it's a good idea to understand if you have a hurricane deductible and how it works. 

Does South Carolina Car Insurance Protect My Vehicle from a Hurricane?

If a hurricane damages your vehicle, you could be protected by your car insurance if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy.

Comprehensive car insurance, also known as "other than collision" insurance, is an optional coverage that pays for damage from incidents considered "non-collision." In the event of a hurricane, whether your vehicle was damaged by wind, hail, or fire, you'd probably be covered as long as you had this policy.

Since this is optional coverage in South Carolina, an agent can help you secure this policy and determine your limits. You'll owe your deductible before your insurance pays if you need to file a comprehensive auto insurance claim.

How Common Are Hurricanes in South Carolina?

South Carolina experiences hurricanes inland and along the coast. With six counties located along the Atlantic Ocean, several tropical storms have made landfall over the years. 

Here's how common hurricanes in South Carolina have been over the years.

• From 1851 to 2020, 43 tropical cyclones made landfall along the South Carolina coastline. 
• Of the 43 tropical cyclones, four made landfall as Category 3+ hurricanes.
• There’s a 79.7% chance you will be affected by a South Carolina tropical system each year.
• In just six months in one recent year, the South Carolina Insurance Reserve Fund reported spending more than $6 million on hurricane damage claims.

How Can a South Carolina Independent Insurance Agent Help?

Hurricane insurance can be confusing because it is broken down by peril within insurance. Most individuals need additional coverages to be fully protected. The easiest way to understand this coverage is to work with a South Carolina independent insurance agent.

Agents are experts in the coverages you need to be protected from a hurricane, whether you renting or own a home. Agents will compare costs and coverages for you and secure the policies you need for your personal property to be protected if a South Carolina hurricane strikes.