State urges residents to review insurance policies as Hurricane Nolo approaches

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Before Hurricane Nolo reaches Hawaii, state insurance officials are urging residents to check their policies.

Read more First Alert Forecast: Nolo is now a Hurricane

Standard homeowners insurance policies do not automatically include hurricane or flood coverage, meaning separate policies may be required — even for homeowners who do not live in designated flood zones.

“I know it gets really confusing for most people because most of us just pay a premium and we don’t really know what kind of insurance we have or what kind of insurance we need, said Hawaii Insurance Commissioner Scott Saiki. “So they should contact their agent or their insurance company and ask them those questions.”

Officials also said renters need their own policies to protect personal belongings inside a unit, and drivers may need comprehensive coverage to safeguard vehicles against storm damage like fallen trees and flood damage.

Saiki said he sent an official directive urging companies not to drop policyholders or delay critical relief as families recover from back-to-back storms.

Read more Facing another storm, Kau families prepare as Hurricane Nolo looms

“At a time of a disaster, the last thing that a consumer or an affected homeowner wants to deal with is an insurance company that is not going to be cooperative. So we sent a memo to insurance companies… asking them to just please be patient, please cooperate, please explain, please do not be harsh with consumers who file claims with them,” he said.

Residents who encounter an uncooperative carrier or face an unfair policy cancellation following the storm are urged to file a complaint directly with the Hawaii Insurance Division.

Property owners who sustain storm damage should document everything with photos and video before filing an insurance claim.

Additional resources from the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs are available here:

Read more Hurricane Nolo set to rapidly intensify as it nears Hawaii Island