Florida and winter are two things that don’t quite seem to go together. While the southernmost counties such as Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade enjoy a semi-permanent summer climate, northern counties such as Orange, Pinellas, Leon and Okaloosa (psst. we’re located in this county) see a lot cooler temps. How much cooler, you ask? Just last year, we had low temperatures of 35 degrees! Crazy right? The Sunshine State happens to get a few blasts of cold air when there are fronts from the northeast that blow in. Sometimes a hurricane or tropical storm can blow out the heat as well. With so much talk about winter, especially in our neck of the woods, here are some interesting insurance points to consider this winter:
Your home and wildlife:
Woods? Yeah, we have those and a ton of wildlife! In addition to reptiles, birds, and fish, northern Florida sees an uptick in bears, foxes, and deer in the winter. What does this mean for us homeowners? Well, things can get a bit tricky. It may be best to review your current homeowners policy when it comes to damage from wild animals.
In your insurance policy, it may cover physical damage caused by wild animals to your property. This may be damage to a fence or your building’s physical structures. Typically, your coverage may not extend to animal damage to your personal property. For example, if a black bear wreaks havoc to your opened garage in hopes to eat some food waste, homeowners insurance may help pay for repairs to the structure, but might not cover your personal property. This is a great question to discuss with your Agent to find out how your insurance company stands on the subject.
Small animals may also introduce problems that insurance may not cover. If a lonely opossum (or other small but pesky rodents) moves into your attic, homeowners insurance may not pay for removal, cleanup or repairs to any damage it leaves behind. Though a bird flying and breaking a window could be an exception.
Your vehicle and Florida’s winter months:
We all see the news when it comes to midwest blizzards, northeast snow and ice, but what about North Florida? Thank goodness we don’t typically have these conditions, but our vehicles do go through quite a bit with the harsh highs and lows. Surprisingly enough, cooler temperatures may cause tire pressure on your vehicle getting low. You need your vehicle drive-able at all times, so it’s wise to keep an eye out for this!
Part-time Florida Residents, most notably known as ‘snowbirds’ may keep their cars in storage while they are not residing here. If that is the case, insurance coverage could be reduced. But if part time residents want to become full-time in the state of Florida, there are ways to transfer car insurance policies from state to state. Get with your Harris Insurance Agent about all of the different options related to insurance transferring or new policies.
The end of Hurricane Season:
In case you didn’t know, November 30th is the last official day of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season! We’re at the tail end and let it be known that we are all so ready for the severe weather to subside. What’s interesting is that even if it is both cold and rainy, a storm can still find a way here. In case this happens and there is touchdown, policies may not be bound. Make note of this if you are planning to move here during the seasons (both winter and hurricane) as this could add a layer of complexity that is usually underestimated.
Surefire ways to know you’re in south Florida for the winter:
- The beaches are still a main getaway, and full of people!
- The sun will shine, turning cold mornings into warm afternoons.
- Our “snow” is actually sand.
- Shorts, t-shirts, and most-importantly, flip flops are worn like any other day
Joking aside, we hope to provide you with as much information about our home and its vibe.
Always remember that we are here to help answer any questions you may have when it comes to all things insurance! Drop us a line at service@harrisinsurance.com or call us at 850.244.2111 to speak to your Agent today.
And, Happy Holidays! (Thanksgiving, End of Hurricane Season, Hanukkah, Christmas & New Years to be exact)
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
Views expressed here do not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is for general guidance of matter only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Discussion of insurance policy language is descriptive only. Every policy has different policy language. Coverage afforded under any insurance policy issued is subject to individual policy terms and conditions. Please refer to your policy for the actual language.
