Hurricane Season in Louisiana: What Business Owners Need to Know About Coverage
Hurricane season brings real risks for Louisiana businesses—wind damage, flooding, power loss, and supply interruptions. To help you prepare, this guide explains hurricane coverage for Louisiana businesses so you can protect property, income, and equipment before the next storm. Let’s walk through what hurricane coverage for Louisiana businesses should include.
1) Property Coverage for Louisiana Businesses
Commercial property coverage helps repair or replace your building, business personal property (contents), and equipment after covered losses like wind or hail. Review these details before a storm:
- Named-storm or hurricane deductibles: Many policies apply a separate percentage deductible for named storms.
- Limits & valuations: Make sure building and contents limits reflect current replacement costs; check coinsurance requirements.
- Outdoor property: Confirm coverage for signs, fences, awnings, rooftop HVAC, and inventory stored outside.
- Ordinance or Law: Adds protection for code-required upgrades during repairs.
Property coverage is foundational, but full hurricane coverage for Louisiana businesses also includes income protection and flood planning.
2) Business Interruption During Hurricane Season
If a storm forces you to close or limits operations, Business Income coverage can replace lost revenue and help pay ongoing expenses.
- Trigger: Typically requires a covered property loss to activate.
- What’s covered: Lost net income, continuing expenses (rent, certain utilities), and Extra Expense to speed recovery (temporary space, overtime, rentals).
- Options & extensions: Waiting period, months of indemnity, Civil Authority (restricted access), and Utility Service Interruption endorsements.
3) Flood Insurance for Louisiana Commercial Properties
Most commercial property policies do not cover flood (rising water, storm surge). Consider a separate flood policy:
- Sources: NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) or private-market policies.
- What it can cover: Building and contents damaged by storm surge, flash flooding, or other rising water.
- Timing: A waiting period may apply—plan ahead.
Learn more from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). For preparedness, see Ready.gov: Business.
4) Inland Marine Coverage: Protecting Equipment in a Storm
Inland marine covers tools, equipment, and property that move—on job sites, in vehicles, or off-premises. It’s valuable for contractors, service companies, and any business with equipment away from the main location. Ask about:
- Contractors’ equipment & tools (owned or leased)
- Installation floaters for materials at a job site before they’re installed
- Property in transit and off-site storage
Storm-Ready Checklist
- Update inventory photos, serial numbers, and receipts; store copies off-site or in the cloud.
- Back up critical records and test remote access for your team.
- Secure outdoor items; confirm vendor and employee emergency contacts.
- Review deductibles, exclusions, and waiting periods with your agent.
We’re Here to Help
Understanding hurricane coverage for Louisiana businesses now can make recovery faster later. If you’d like a policy review or have questions about property, business interruption, flood, or inland marine coverage, we’re ready to help.
📞 Call Castello Agency at 225-654-2313 or contact us online to request a commercial quote.