How to Prepare Your Furniture for Hurricane Season

by Eric Hod | Design Manager, Hudson’s Furniture

Jump to what you want to know:

• How Should I Protect Outdoor Furniture During a Hurricane?
• Why You Shouldn’t Put Furniture in Your Pool During a Hurricane
• How Do I Protect Indoor Furniture From Hurricane Damage?
• When Should I Start Preparing My Furniture for Hurricane Season?
• Why Is Hurricane Furniture Protection Important?
• Frequently Asked Questions 

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Hurricane season arrives every year with the same predictability, yet furniture damage remains one of the most common and costly consequences homeowners face. The good news is that furniture damage from hurricanes is largely preventable when you understand the threats and take action before the storm arrives.

Whether you’re protecting a cherished dining set passed down through generations or outdoor furniture that transforms your patio into an outdoor oasis, the strategies in this guide will help you safeguard every piece in your home.

You’ll learn exactly what to move, what to anchor, when to start preparing, and how to create a system that becomes faster and easier each season. The difference between minor cleanup and total loss often comes down to a few hours of preparation, and this comprehensive guide gives you everything you need to protect your furniture investment and your peace of mind.

How Should I Protect Outdoor Furniture During a Hurricane?

Outdoor furniture faces the most direct impact from hurricanes. These pieces sit fully exposed to the storm, making them among the most vulnerable items in your home. Three main forces cause furniture damage: high winds that can lift lightweight pieces and turn them into projectiles, flying debris that scratches finishes and breaks materials, and water that poses the most powerful threat, one that lingers long after the storm ends.

Your protection strategy comes down to three key moves: assessing which furniture can be moved and which must stay, storing lightweight pieces indoors where they’re completely protected from the storm, and securely anchoring heavy furniture that’s too large to relocate. Each action targets specific threats, and together they create a defense that can mean the difference between minor cleanup and total loss.

Step #1: Assess Your Outdoor Furniture & Hurricane Damage Risks

Before you start moving furniture, walk through your outdoor spaces and make an assessment, keeping in mind the four main forces that cause furniture damage during hurricanes: wind, debris, rain, and floodwater. Understanding how each threatens your furniture helps you prioritize your protection efforts.

Wind speeds during hurricanes can exceed 100 miles per hour, which means lightweight pieces like umbrellas, cushions, aluminum chairs, bistro sets, and side tables are particularly vulnerable to becoming airborne. These pieces don’t just blow away. They become projectiles that shatter windows, damage siding, or harm nearby homes. 

Rain driven by strong gusts can work its way through small openings, soaking wood and upholstery. Even though rainwater may seem clean, it often carries pollutants from the atmosphere that leave behind residue or stains.

However, the most damaging threat is floodwater. More than just seawater or rainfall, floodwater is a moving mix of everything it touches as it spreads, including sewage, fertilizers, and industrial chemicals. According to Johns Hopkins, surging floodwaters can disturb septic systems, storage tanks, and waste containers, allowing hazardous materials to blend into the water and contaminate anything in their path. Furniture exposed to floodwater often suffers irreversible damage: metal corrodes, wood warps, and upholstery absorbs bacteria and toxins that continue to degrade it long after the storm has passed.

Understanding these threats highlights why preparation matters. The same forces that destroy unprotected pieces can often be avoided with the right precautions. Knowing which items to move, how to secure what must stay outside, and when to take action can make the difference between minor cleanup and total loss.

Step #2: Store Lightweight Furniture Indoors

Your best option for saving lightweight furniture is moving it indoors to a garage, shed, or even inside your home. This strategy eliminates virtually all risk of damage, though it requires planning and adequate storage space. To fit as much furniture as possible into a small space, start with the largest pieces first, then creatively find ways to stack furniture vertically rather than spreading it out. Remember, the idea is to save, not display, your furniture.

Store Modular Patio Furniture & Stackable Chairs

Start with modular patio furniture such as sectionals, loungers, or stackable chairs that can be taken apart and moved easily. Remove cushions and smaller accessories first, and store them in sealed plastic bags or waterproof containers to keep them dry. Once accessories are out of the way, disassemble larger pieces into individual sections.

Stack the frames compactly and tie them together with rope or bungee cords so they stay secure while stored. When everything is stacked, cover the bundle with a durable tarp or fitted furniture cover to protect it from moisture and debris.

Store Patio Tables & Protect Glass Tops

For wood or wicker pieces, place the tabletops face-to-face with a towel or packing blanket between them. This setup keeps the highly visible table tops from scratching and makes the stack more stable.

If your patio table has a glass top, carefully remove it, laying the glass flat on a soft surface, such as carpet. Next, wrap it completely in bubble wrap, reinforcing the edges with cardboard, and taping everything securely. Finally, store the wrapped glass upright against a wall, similar to how you would position a mirror. Place it behind a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a dresser or cabinet, to keep it stable and protected from shifting during the storm.

Stack & Secure Outdoor Chairs

Organize chairs so they take up as little space as possible. Stack them neatly and, if possible, secure the stacks with rope or bungee cords to prevent them from tipping.

These small steps go a long way toward preventing impact, moisture, and surface damage, helping your outdoor furniture stay in good shape and ready to return to service once the storm has passed.

Step #3: Anchor Heavy Furniture That Can’t Be Moved

Not all outdoor furniture can be moved indoors. Heavy stone tables, built-in seating, large planters, and oversized sectionals often weigh too much to relocate safely, and trying to force them inside can cause injury or damage to your home’s doorways and floors. For these pieces, proper anchoring becomes your primary defense against hurricane winds.

Why Hurricane Winds Lift Heavy Furniture

The science behind wind damage is straightforward: wind doesn’t just push against furniture; it creates lift. Similar to how airflow over an airplane wing creates lift, when wind flows over and around an object, it generates pressure differences that can literally pull furniture off the ground. This is why heavy tables can still flip during extreme winds. The table’s broad surface acts like a sail, and it can become weightless in extremely fast winds like those associated with hurricanes.

Positioning & Securing Heavy Furniture

For heavy outdoor pieces like tables, furniture experts recommend placing them on their side before securing them to a stable anchor point. This technique dramatically reduces the furniture’s wind profile by eliminating the large flat surface that acts like a sail. Once positioned, wrap straps around the table’s legs and frame, pulling them tight to the anchor point, and double-check that nothing can shift or loosen as the wind builds.

Fasten chairs, tables, and other large pieces too heavy to move inside to deck railings, ground anchors, or permanent structures using professional anchoring systems such as heavy-duty straps or chains.

How to Select the Right Anchoring Materials

When choosing your anchoring materials, select marine-grade stainless steel or galvanized metal straps and chains resistant to corrosion from saltwater. Standard hardware store chains may rust through after one season of coastal exposure, leaving you with false security when the next hurricane arrives.

Your anchoring point matters just as much as your materials. Ground anchors, the kind used for securing sheds, dog runs, or deck posts, are often deeply cemented in the ground. They provide the most reliable attachment points as they are designed to resist pulling forces. Avoid using deck or decorative railings and freestanding posts, unless they are securely attached to the home’s structure. These anchor points typically will loosen throughout the storm.

Why You Shouldn’t Put Furniture in Your Pool During a Hurricane

While the idea of submerging patio furniture in a swimming pool during a hurricane might sound practical at first, it’s largely inadvisable and can cause more problems than it solves. Placing furniture in the pool can cause significant damage to the pool’s structure, liner, and plumbing, creating potential issues that persist long after the storm has passed.

Furniture legs, even when covered with tennis balls, can puncture vinyl liners as the furniture shifts underwater. Concrete or fiberglass pools aren’t immune either. Underwater, metal furniture corrodes, leaving impossible-to-remove rust stains. The abrasive action of furniture moving around during the storm can scratch and chip both fiberglass and plaster finishes.

Pool equipment faces serious risks as well. Debris from furniture, such as metal or paint chippings and hardware, can enter your filtration system and cause mechanical failures. Even worse, if the storm causes your pool to overflow, as often happens during hurricanes with heavy rainfall, the furniture can wash out of the pool and become the very projectiles you were trying to prevent.

The furniture itself rarely emerges unscathed. Despite being submerged, outdoor furniture can sustain water damage. Wood furniture swells and warps underwater, wicker and rattan become waterlogged and lose their structural integrity, and metal components rust, even on furniture marketed as weather-resistant.

Finally, removing furniture from a pool after a hurricane is considerably more difficult than putting it in. Waterlogged furniture weighs significantly more than dry furniture, often requiring several people to remove large pieces without personal injury or property damage. All these factors can lead to costly and unnecessary pool repairs.

How Do I Protect Indoor Furniture From Hurricane Damage?

Indoor furniture might seem safe from hurricane damage, but water finds entry points you didn’t know existed. Wind-driven rain seeps through aged window and door seals. Roof shingles loosen and create leaks. Flooding creeps into lower levels when drainage systems become overwhelmed. Protecting your indoor furniture starts with understanding where your home is most vulnerable, then taking specific actions to address those weak points before the storm arrives.

Your protection strategy comes down to five key moves: identifying vulnerable areas in your home, moving furniture to upper floors or elevating pieces off the ground, relocating items to interior rooms without windows or doors, strategically positioning furniture that must stay in vulnerable rooms, and covering valuable pieces that can’t be moved. Each action targets a specific threat, and together, they create multiple layers of defense that significantly reduce your risk of losing furniture you’ve carefully chosen for your home.

Step #1: Identify Your Home’s Vulnerable Areas

Before you start moving furniture around, take time to walk through your home and identify which rooms face the highest risk. Ground-floor rooms with large windows or doors are most vulnerable to flooding, especially those below your area’s predicted flood level. Because the security of windows and doors is largely dependent on their installation and upkeep, and because they are typically constructed with fragile glass, these spaces face the highest risks from wind-driven rain and flying debris.

Once you understand where water is most likely to enter, you can prioritize which furniture needs the most protection and where to focus your efforts. This assessment takes maybe 15 minutes, but it helps you make smart decisions about what stays, what moves, and what gets elevated.

Step #2: Move Furniture Upstairs or Elevate It Off the Ground

Your most effective defense against flood damage is getting furniture off the ground floor entirely. If you have a second floor or attic with safe access, these elevated areas offer protection from flooding while still shielding furniture from roof leaks, as long as you place items away from directly under the roof. Moving furniture upstairs eliminates ground-level flood risk completely, which is particularly valuable if you live in a flood-prone area or if forecasters predict significant storm surge for your region.

Start with your most valuable pieces and work your way through the list. Accent chairs, side tables, ottomans, and decorative items are typically easy to carry upstairs. Larger pieces like sofas may require two people, but the effort pays off when floodwater stays contained to the first floor.

If You Don’t Have an Upstairs, Elevate Furniture

For homes without a second floor, elevation becomes your primary defense against flood damage. The key is understanding the likely flood depth in your area and raising furniture above that level. Concrete blocks offer a practical, affordable solution that works for most furniture types.

Standard concrete blocks measure eight inches tall, which protects against approximately six inches of floodwater when furniture sits on top of them. This height handles many common flooding scenarios, particularly minor flooding from storm surge or heavy rainfall in homes that aren’t located in designated flood zones. If your home sits in a flood-prone area or if forecasters predict significant storm surge, consider stacking two levels of concrete blocks to create sixteen inches of elevation.

When using concrete blocks, position one block under each leg or corner of the furniture to distribute weight evenly and prevent tipping. Make sure the furniture sits level and stable on the blocks. For sofas and chairs with skirting that hides the legs, you may need to remove the decorative fabric temporarily to access the furniture’s base and properly position the blocks. Once everything is elevated, test stability by gently pushing from different angles. Wobbly furniture can topple during the storm, potentially causing damage to the piece or nearby items.

For furniture that’s too large or heavy to lift onto blocks safely, you can stack smaller pieces on top of dining tables and kitchen counters. End tables, ottomans, accent chairs, lamps, and decorative pieces can be carefully stacked on dining tables. Use moving blankets or towels between stacked pieces to prevent scratches and help distribute weight. Every inch of elevation reduces your flood risk.

Step #3: Move Furniture to Interior Rooms Without Windows or Doors

Interior rooms without exterior walls or windows provide the safest protection during hurricanes. These rooms are insulated from flying debris, wind-driven rain, and the risk of window failure. Hallways, walk-in closets, interior bathrooms, and laundry rooms make excellent temporary storage spaces for smaller furniture pieces during hurricane threats.

This step works particularly well for furniture that’s already on the ground floor and needs additional protection beyond elevation. You’re creating a safe zone within your home where water and debris are least likely to reach. Even if your first floor experiences some flooding, interior rooms often stay drier because they’re protected by the exterior rooms that absorb the initial water intrusion.

Focus on moving pieces that are small enough to fit through doorways and can be temporarily stored without blocking essential pathways. Accent chairs, side tables, ottomans, and decorative items work well for interior room storage. Larger pieces like sofas and dining tables may need to stay in their original rooms, but you can still move cushions, removable components, and anything sitting on top of those pieces to protected areas.

Step #4: Strategically Place Furniture That Can’t Be Moved to Other Rooms

For valuable furniture that must remain in rooms with windows or doors, strategic positioning makes a real difference. Creating distance between your pieces and any exterior opening reduces exposure to the three main threats: shattered glass, flying debris, and wind-driven water.

When windows fail during hurricanes, glass and debris typically scatter up to five or six feet into the room, while water can soak everything in its path. If you can move pieces at least six feet away from windows, you’re giving them a much better chance of avoiding all three types of damage.

Glass poses a particularly serious problem for soft surfaces like sofas, beds, and upholstered chairs. Tiny shards embed deep into cushions, pillows, and fabric, making them nearly impossible to remove completely. Even after careful cleaning, missed fragments can shred the upholstery from within and create safety hazards for anyone who sits or lies down. The labor involved in attempting to clean glass from soft furniture often exceeds the cost of replacement, which is why creating distance becomes so important.

For pieces that can’t be moved six feet away, turn them so that decorative or valuable surfaces face away from windows. If wind does breach a window, the backs and sides of furniture are easier and less expensive to repair than fronts, tops, and cushioned seating areas. This simple rotation can save you hundreds of dollars in restoration costs while preserving the surfaces you actually see and use every day.

Step #5: Cover Valuable, Unmovable, or Anchored Furniture

For furniture that can not be moved, covering pieces with plastic sheeting can protect them from roof leaks and water intrusion. This step is particularly important for valuable pieces anchored to walls for stability or too heavy to relocate. 

For this purpose, select heavy-duty plastic sheeting, specifically contractor-grade plastic with a thickness of at least 4 millimeters (labeled as 4 mil). This thickness provides durability and tear resistance while remaining flexible enough to drape over furniture of various shapes and sizes. Reinforced poly tarps or waterproof canvas tarps can also be used, although they tend to be more expensive and more difficult to work with than plastic sheeting

Avoid painter’s plastic, the thin sheeting sold for protecting floors during painting projects. It tears easily and won’t provide adequate water resistance.

When covering furniture, drape the plastic so it extends all the way to the floor and create a seal at the bottom to prevent water from seeping underneath. Use duct tape to secure the plastic around the base of furniture legs or underneath the furniture. For large pieces like sofas or dining tables, completely wrap the furniture as if you’re packaging it for storage. Leave no gaps where water can enter. Pay special attention to seams where pieces of plastic meet and overlap them by at least six inches, securing the overlap with tape.

Clear lower cabinets and move their contents to higher shelves or countertops. This protects not just the items themselves but also prevents contaminated floodwater from mixing with household chemicals or food storage, which creates additional cleanup challenges after the storm passes.

When Should I Start Preparing My Furniture for Hurricane Season?

Hurricane preparation works best as a proactive process rather than a reactive scramble. The calendar below breaks down exactly what you need to do and when you need to do it, helping you avoid three common mistakes: waiting until supplies sell out, rushing through tasks when a storm is already approaching, and forgetting critical steps in the chaos.

Starting in April or May, before hurricane season officially begins on June 1, gives you time to work methodically without pressure. You can shop for supplies when stores are fully stocked and prices are normal. By June, items like plastic sheeting, straps, chains, and concrete blocks may already be scarce. By the time a hurricane threatens your area, supplies are essentially unavailable.

Early preparation also lets you complete tasks that require time or favorable weather. Apply weather-resistant sealants during dry weather when they need several days to cure. Inspect furniture and make repairs while contractors still have availability. Take inventory photos without rushing.

The calendar guides you through every phase: pre-season preparation, active monitoring during June through November, and post-season review in December. Use this timeline as your roadmap, adjusting based on your region, but stick to the principle of starting early and staying prepared. The few hours you invest upfront can save thousands in furniture replacement costs.

Why Is Hurricane Furniture Protection Important?

Furniture protection during hurricanes safeguards more than physical possessions. It protects financial investments, preserves irreplaceable items, and provides peace of mind that comes from knowing you’ve done everything possible to secure what matters. The furniture throughout your home represents years of careful selection, significant financial investment, and countless daily moments that have made your house into a home.

The Financial Impact Goes Beyond Replacement Costs

Even one inch of floodwater inside a home can cause thousands of dollars in damage to furniture, flooring, walls, and other belongings. Insurance deductibles for hurricane damage often run into thousands of dollars, and some policies have percentage-based deductibles that can reach tens of thousands for expensive homes. Even with insurance, you’ll likely pay a substantial amount out of pocket.

The true cost extends beyond the initial replacement. Factor in the time and stress involved in filing claims, meeting with adjusters, shopping for replacements, and waiting for deliveries. You’re looking at weeks or months of disruption while dealing with the aftermath.

Unsecured Furniture Threatens Your Community

Furniture protection serves a broader safety purpose beyond your own property. Patio chairs, umbrellas, and tables that become airborne during hurricanes can travel hundreds of feet, damaging neighbors’ homes, vehicles, and property. In extreme cases, flying furniture has caused injuries and fatalities. By securing your outdoor furniture, you’re protecting your community, not just your investment.

Experience Makes Future Preparation Easier

The first time you prepare for a hurricane, the process feels overwhelming and time-consuming. By the second or third storm, you’ve refined your system, you know exactly where supplies are stored, and the entire process becomes significantly faster and less stressful. This experience translates to general disaster preparedness. Families who regularly practice hurricane preparation handle other emergencies better because they have supplies on hand, they’re accustomed to working together under pressure, and they’ve developed a proactive mindset.

Climate data suggests that hurricane activity may remain elevated in coming years, with some research indicating that warming ocean temperatures could intensify hurricane strength. This trend makes preparation skills increasingly valuable. Learning to protect your furniture effectively during one hurricane season means you’ll approach each subsequent season with greater confidence and efficiency.

Preparation Gives You Control

Furniture protection provides something less tangible but equally important: control in an uncontrollable situation. Hurricanes are massive, powerful, and unpredictable. You cannot control whether a hurricane forms, where it goes, or how strong it becomes. But you can control how you prepare.

Taking action to protect your furniture gives you agency in a frightening situation. It transforms anxiety into productive activity. When the storm passes and you assess damage, knowing you did everything possible to protect your belongings provides comfort even if some damage occurred. That peace of mind has real value for your mental and emotional well-being during a stressful time.

At Hudson’s Furniture + Mattress, we know your furniture is more than décor. It’s part of your everyday life and where you relax, gather, and make memories. That’s why every piece we sell is built to stand up to real living and backed by one of the most trusted warranties in the industry.

Our warranty coverage protects you long after your purchase, offering repair or replacement options that keep your investment looking and performing its best. From frame integrity to fabric protection, we make sure you can enjoy your furniture with confidence through every season.

So whether you’re furnishing a new home, replacing storm-damaged pieces, or simply upgrading your favorite room, you can shop knowing your investment is protected.

Explore our indoor and outdoor collections online or in-store, and experience the peace of mind that comes with Hudson’s Furniture quality and warranty assurance.

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FAQs

How do hurricanes damage furniture?

Three main forces cause furniture damage during hurricanes: wind, water, and debris. High winds can lift lightweight furniture and turn it into projectiles that shatter windows and damage property. Flying debris carried by winds can scratch finishes and break fragile materials. Water poses the most powerful threat, with floodwater being the most damaging as it contains sewage, fertilizers, and industrial chemicals that cause irreversible damage to metal, wood, and upholstery.

When should I start preparing my furniture for hurricane season?

Start preparing in April or May, before hurricane season officially begins on June 1. Early preparation allows you to shop for supplies when stores are fully stocked, complete tasks that require favorable weather like applying sealants, make repairs while contractors have availability, and take inventory photos without rushing. By the time a hurricane threatens your area, supplies are essentially unavailable.

How should I protect outdoor furniture during a hurricane?

Protect outdoor furniture through three key steps: assess which furniture can be moved and which must stay, store lightweight pieces like aluminum chairs and bistro sets indoors in a garage or shed, and anchor heavy furniture like stone tables and built-in seating using marine-grade stainless steel straps and ground anchors. Place heavy tables on their side before anchoring to reduce wind profile.

How do I protect indoor furniture from hurricane damage?

Protect indoor furniture through five steps: (1) identify vulnerable areas in your home, (2) move furniture to upper floors or elevate pieces off the ground using concrete blocks, (3) relocate items to interior rooms without windows, (4) strategically position furniture at least six feet away from windows, and (5) cover valuable unmovable pieces with contractor-grade plastic sheeting (at least 4 mil thickness).

Should I put furniture in my pool during a hurricane?

No, putting furniture in your pool during a hurricane is inadvisable. Furniture legs can puncture vinyl liners, metal corrodes and leaves rust stains, debris can damage filtration systems, and furniture can wash out if the pool overflows and become projectiles. Wood swells and warps underwater, and waterlogged furniture becomes extremely difficult to remove after the storm.

How high should I elevate indoor furniture to protect it from flooding?

Standard concrete blocks measure eight inches tall and protect against approximately six inches of floodwater when furniture sits on top of them. For flood-prone areas or when forecasters predict significant storm surge, stack two levels of concrete blocks to create sixteen inches of elevation. Position one block under each leg or corner to distribute weight evenly and test stability before the storm.

What materials should I use to anchor outdoor furniture?

Use marine-grade stainless steel or galvanized metal straps and chains that resist corrosion from saltwater. Standard hardware store chains may rust through after one season of coastal exposure. Anchor furniture to ground anchors that are deeply cemented in the ground, as they provide the most reliable attachment points designed to resist pulling forces. Avoid using deck railings or freestanding posts as anchor points.

Why does glass pose a serious problem for upholstered furniture during hurricanes?

When windows fail during hurricanes, glass shards embed deep into cushions, pillows, and fabric, making them nearly impossible to remove completely. Even after careful cleaning, missed fragments can shred upholstery from within and create safety hazards for anyone who sits or lies down. The labor involved in attempting to clean glass from soft furniture often exceeds the cost of replacement.

What supplies do I need for hurricane furniture protection?

Essential supplies include contractor-grade plastic sheeting (at least 4 mil thickness), marine-grade stainless steel straps and chains, concrete blocks for elevating furniture, duct tape and waterproof tape, rope or bungee cords, sealed plastic bags or waterproof containers for cushions, moving blankets or towels, bubble wrap and cardboard for glass protection, and durable tarps or fitted furniture covers.

How far away from windows should I move indoor furniture?

Move furniture at least six feet away from windows. When windows fail during hurricanes, glass and debris typically scatter up to five or six feet into the room. Furniture positioned beyond this range has a much better chance of avoiding impact damage from shattered glass, flying debris, and wind-driven water.

Why is early hurricane preparation important for furniture protection?”

Early preparation allows you to avoid supply shortages, complete time-sensitive tasks like applying sealants that need days to cure, make repairs while contractors have availability, and spread costs across several weeks. Starting in April or May means you can shop when stores are fully stocked and prices are normal. By June, items may be scarce, and by the time a hurricane threatens, supplies are essentially unavailable.

What are the financial impacts of hurricane furniture damage?

Even one inch of floodwater inside a home can cause $30,000 in damage to furniture, flooring, walls, and other belongings. Insurance deductibles for hurricane damage often run into thousands of dollars, and some policies have percentage-based deductibles that can reach tens of thousands for expensive homes. The true cost extends beyond replacement to include time and stress filing claims, meeting with adjusters, shopping for replacements, and waiting for deliveries.

How far away from windows should I move indoor furniture?

Move furniture at least six feet away from windows. When windows fail during hurricanes, glass and debris typically scatter up to five or six feet into the room. Furniture positioned beyond this range has a much better chance of avoiding impact damage from shattered glass, flying debris, and wind-driven water.

Why is early hurricane preparation important for furniture protection?

Early preparation allows you to avoid supply shortages, complete time-sensitive tasks like applying sealants that need days to cure, make repairs while contractors have availability, and spread costs across several weeks. Starting in April or May means you can shop when stores are fully stocked and prices are normal. By June, items may be scarce, and by the time a hurricane threatens, supplies are essentially unavailable.”

What are the financial impacts of hurricane furniture damage?

Even one inch of floodwater inside a home can cause $30,000 in damage to furniture, flooring, walls, and other belongings. Insurance deductibles for hurricane damage often run into thousands of dollars, and some policies have percentage-based deductibles that can reach tens of thousands for expensive homes. The true cost extends beyond replacement to include time and stress filing claims, meeting with adjusters, shopping for replacements, and waiting for deliveries.