GUIDE · HURRICANE PREP
Preparing Your Business for Hurricane Season
A practical guide for Caribbean operators, from property cover and business interruption to a calm, well-documented claim.
Hurricane season is the one major risk every Caribbean operator can see coming. The businesses that recover fastest are rarely the luckiest; they are the ones whose limits, valuations, and continuity plan were already in order when the first warning went up.
We help operators get ahead of the season rather than scramble through it, reviewing property, business-interruption, and contingency cover before a system forms. This guide walks through what to check, the terms that matter, and how a claim actually unfolds.
What to review before the season
Start with the sum insured. Rebuild costs across the region have risen sharply after recent seasons, so a value set a few years ago is very likely short today. Then look at how business interruption is structured: the indemnity period, the gross-profit basis, and any extensions for denial of access or utility failure.
Finally, confirm what is excluded. Flood and storm surge are frequently separate from windstorm cover, and catastrophe sub-limits can cap the very damage a hurricane is most likely to cause.
Key terms
Business interruption
Cover for lost gross profit and the extra cost of working while a covered event halts operations.
Sum insured
The maximum the policy will pay. For property, set it to full reinstatement value.
Indemnity period
The maximum time business interruption pays out while you recover. Match it to realistic island rebuilding timelines, not a default twelve months.
Storm surge
Rising seawater driven ashore by a storm. It is often treated separately from wind damage, so confirm it is covered.
A short review before June is far cheaper than discovering a gap in October. We run that review with you and put any changes in place while cover is still straightforward to adjust.
The time to read your policy is before the season, not while the shutters are going up. By the time a warning is issued, your cover is already set.
If a storm does hit, a clear claims process makes the recovery faster and far less stressful. Our companion guide, Making a Claim After a Storm, walks through the six steps in order.
Hurricane cover FAQ
Does standard property cover include flood?
Not always. Flood and storm surge are frequently a separate extension, so we review every policy for the gap before the season.
When should I review my limits?
Before June each year, and after any material change to your assets or operations.
How long does a hurricane claim take to settle?
It depends on the severity of the event and on access for loss adjusters. Prompt notification, good documentation, and accurate values all shorten the timeline.
Related reading
Hurricane Cover
Private Pleasure Craft Insurance and Hurricane Season in the Caribbean
Commercial Businesses
Making a Claim After a Storm
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Commercial Businesses
Commercial Businesses
Closing the Coverage Gaps in Commercial Property
Commercial Businesses
Public Liability Insurance Explained for Caribbean Businesses
Commercial Businesses