HAWAIIRENOVATION our hurricane insurer wants to pay for strengthening your house and particularly your garage door and open carport and lanais with those airplane winglike roofs. Longtime Hawaii residents remember the November 1983 Hurricane Iwa, and numerous winter storms with tropical cyclone winds over the years. Granted we are all a little guilty of “disaster amnesia” this year. But should we gamble w i t h Mother Nature and discount the possibility of a severe storm happening at any time? Think again, because it is documented proof that there is not a dwelling in our state anywhere that couldn’t use something minor or major for protection against the ravaging effects of a howling wind
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and water event. An investment of from about $100 to $500 for late model houses, and $1,000 to $1,800 for pre-1991 houses will give you engineered protection, not to mention a good dose of peace of mind and a chance to avoid an unplanned average $8,500 out of pocket deductible in the fine print of your hurricane policy (not the same as for your underlying property and fire insurance).
tion) and its weather branches. The state of Hawaii Insurance Division and property insurance companies, building code officials, manufacturers of damage loss mitigation devices like the $900 million Simpson Strong-Tie Company, and Hawaii’s twodecade, storm protection technical contractor leaders, HPS Hurricane Protection Services Divi-
Hurricane Protection
Doesn’t Cost — It Pays Who says? Well, just about everyone connected with disaster preparedness — federal, state and county Civil Defense officials, NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
sion of General Engineering and General Contractor HPS Construction Services Ltd. “We have inspected over 3,000 houses and condos in our nearly 20 years specializing in storm pro-
tection products and services,” says Gerry Peters of HPS. “We have never found one that didn’t need something to get it ready for our long overdue big storm hit, or even a winter tropical storm,” he added. “It is wise for safety, peace of mind, and financially to invest the relatively modest amount it cost to better prepare your dwelling. Check the fine print of your hurricane in-
surance policy. It is different than your fire protection terms. The average deductible is 2 percent or more of insured value, or $6,000-$10,000 before they have to give you even one dollar of claim money. “They have doubled it the last few years, and blamed it on Hurricane Katrina. However, nearly all of them will give you yearly reductions of $200 all the way up to $600 per
year for hardening your house’s wind resistance. In fact starting this year some of the new entrants into the State providing hurricane insurance are offering up to 50 percent off provided your house has hurricane protection. You can check the State Insurance Division website for a list of companies, calling 586-2790 or simply asking your agent to go shopping for you,” says Peters.
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NOV. 7, 2010 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 5