Florida remains one of the most expensive U.S. states for homeowners insurance, pushing some South Florida residents to drop coverage before hurricane season. Bankrate data shows only Nebraska and Louisiana have higher average home insurance costs, according to CBS News.
Recent weather events have made the risk harder to ignore. An EF-0 tornado hit Palm Springs North before the official start of hurricane season, damaging homes and leaving residents to rely on neighbors for help.
Fewer storms than usual may develop during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, researchers say, as climate patterns seem poised to favor slightly below-average activity compared with a typical year.
That prediction anchors the latest annual hurricane forecast from Colorado State University’s Tropical Cyclones, Radar, Atmospheric Modeling and Software team.
The team historically provides some of the earliest insights into what to expect from an upcoming season. Another key outlook will be released next month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Resident Carlos Varela said the tornado was so violent that visibility disappeared and debris flew through the air. For some households, recovery from that kind of damage happens without insurance money.
Flooding has already shown the same problem in Fort Lauderdale’s Edgewood neighborhood. Historic rainfall three years ago sent several feet of water into homes, including properties owned by Tony Schrieber.
Schrieber owns two houses on the same block. One had flood insurance, and the other did not.
After restoring both homes, Schrieber said he understood the value of flood coverage. He described the cost as reasonable compared with the damage the flooding caused.
Even so, Schrieber has chosen not to carry hurricane insurance on one of his properties. He called it a risk decision and said the choice depends on the property, not a lack of awareness about hurricanes.
Hurricane activity this year will dip to about 75% of the long-term seasonal average, according to the forecast. If accurate, that would mark somewhat of a decrease from last year’s hurricane season, which brought 13 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, although none made direct landfall in the U.S. in 2025. Federal data show an average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
Insurance professionals say that kind of decision has become more common. An agent with Keyes Coverage estimates about 15% of South Florida homeowners without mortgages also go without home insurance.
Without a lender requiring coverage, some owners decide to self-insure. That usually means keeping personal savings available instead of paying annual premiums.
Mark Bluh, an insurance agent with decades of experience, said insuring an average $400,000 home in Miami-Dade County can cost about $10,000 a year. Roughly 60% of that amount comes from hurricane and wind coverage.
Bluh said he understands why homeowners consider dropping parts of their coverage once a mortgage is paid off. He said even someone inside the insurance business would look closely at those costs.
Still, he warned that self-insuring requires discipline. Many homeowners start with good intentions, then spend down savings once the money begins to build.
South Florida homeowners are entering hurricane season with a hard tradeoff. Premiums keep straining household budgets, while storms, wind, and flooding remain impossible to price comfortably.
