Is There a Difference? Yes, and It Can Determine if Your Claim is Paid.
The Nuance That Can Cost You Thousands.
My home was damaged by a severe thunderstorm with 90 mph winds. My deductible was $1,000. A few months later, a hurricane with 80 mph winds caused similar damage. My deductible for that claim was $15,000. Why the massive difference? The first event was a generic “windstorm.” The second was a “named storm.” My policy had a separate, much higher deductible for an officially named storm. This small, semantic difference in the policy language had a massive impact on my wallet.
“Windstorm” Can Be Any High-Wind Event. “Named Storm” Refers Only to a Hurricane, Tropical Storm, etc.
A Broad Category vs. a Specific Event.
This is the core distinction. “Windstorm” is a broad, generic term that can refer to any event that causes damage with high winds. This includes a tornado, a derecho, a severe thunderstorm, or a hurricane. “Named Storm” is a very specific, defined term. It refers only to a storm system that has been officially named by the National Weather Service or a similar authority, like a tropical storm or a hurricane. Your policy may have different rules for each.
How a “Named Storm” Deductible Can Be Higher Than a General “Windstorm” Deductible.
The Three Tiers of Deductibles.
A complex coastal homeowners policy can have three different deductibles. 1) Your low, flat-dollar All Other Perils Deductible for things like fire. 2) A higher Windstorm Deductible for any wind event. 3) The highest, often percentage-based Named Storm or Hurricane Deductible that is only triggered by an officially named storm. It is crucial to understand this “good, better, worst” hierarchy of your own out-of-pocket costs.
A Tornado Hit My House. Is That a “Windstorm” or a “Named Storm”?
The Answer is in Your Policy’s “Definitions” Section.
A tornado, while terrifying, is not a “named storm.” It is a type of “windstorm.” This is a critical distinction. If you have a separate “Named Storm” deductible, it would NOT apply to tornado damage. The damage would be subject to your general “Windstorm” or even your “All Other Perils” deductible, which is often much lower. The specific definition of these terms in your contract is everything.
Reading the Fine Print: How Your Policy Defines These Two Critical Terms.
Your Financial Fate is Written in the “Definitions” Page.
Do not guess. You must read your policy. Go to the “Definitions” section of your homeowners insurance contract. It will have a specific, legal definition for “Windstorm” and, if applicable, for “Named Storm” or “Hurricane.” That definition is the legally binding rule that will determine which deductible applies to your claim. What you think a word means is irrelevant. What the contract says it means is the only thing that matters.
In Some States, You Need a Separate Windstorm Policy. In Others, it’s a Deductible.
The Two Different Ways Insurers Handle Wind Risk.
In some extremely high-risk coastal areas, like parts of Texas, a standard homeowners policy will exclude all wind damage. In this case, you must purchase a completely separate Windstorm Insurance policy from a state-run pool or a specialized carrier. In most other states, wind is included in the standard policy, but it is handled with a separate and higher Windstorm Deductible. You need to know which system your state uses.
A Severe Thunderstorm with 80 MPH Winds vs. Hurricane Betty with 80 MPH Winds.
Same Wind, Different Name, Massively Different Deductible.
This is the absurd but real-world result of these policies. A powerful, unnamed thunderstorm with 80 mph winds causes damage to your roof. Your claim is subject to your standard, low deductible. The next month, Hurricane Betty, with the exact same 80 mph winds, causes the exact same damage. Because the storm has a name, your claim is now subject to your massive, percentage-based hurricane deductible. The only difference was the name given to the weather event.