Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Typhoon Damage?

However, most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage. If a typhoon causes your home to flood, then you may be forced to pay for repairs out of pocket.

Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about how insurers cover typhoon damage.

What is a Typhoon?

In the United States, a typhoon generally refers to a tropical cyclone in the Pacific Ocean.

In other words, a typhoon is simply a hurricane that occurs in the Pacific Ocean instead of the Atlantic.

We hear a lot about hurricanes in the United States. That’s because the Atlantic Ocean frequently creates hurricanes impacting states in the Southeast and along the East Coast.

Surprisingly, there are generally more typhoons than hurricanes. They form most frequently in the western Pacific. Super Typhoons – like Super Typhoon Yagi in September 2024 – are particularly large and devastating.

We hear less about typhoons in the United States because they don’t impact large American population centers as frequently.

However, typhoons can and do impact America’s Pacific states and territories. In October 2025, for example, Typhoon Halong severely damaged western Alaska, leading to one of the most significant airlifts in Alaskan history as authorities scrambled to get people away from coastal villages affected by high surf and strong winds.

Typhoons impact all five U.S. Pacific states (Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California) and all three U.S. Pacific territories (Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands), along with all other countries and territories throughout the Pacific Ocean.

How Insurers Handle Typhoon Damage

Typhoons don’t get the same headlines as hurricanes, but they can cause significant damage – and homeowners insurance should cover this damage.

From an insurance standpoint, typhoon damage is typically treated like hurricane or windstorm damage, regardless of whether it was a named typhoon or an unnamed storm.

If a windstorm or hurricane damages your home, then your insurer covers the cost of repairing and replacing your property to pre-loss condition.

Let’s say heavy winds destroy your roof. You make a claim, your insurer verifies your roof was damaged by a covered event (the typhoon), and your insurer compensates you for the loss of your roof.

There are, however, caveats to this coverage. Insurers could exclude certain types of wind damage, for example. A standard homeowners insurance policy also excludes flood damage.

How Insurance Covers Wind Damage from a Typhoon

A standard homeowners insurance policy should cover wind damage from a typhoon.

Your homeowners insurance policy should cover things like:

• Damaged or destroyed shingles on your roof
• Losses from flying debris – like tree branches
• Roof damage
• Other damage caused by heavy winds

Insurers typically cover these damages under your dwelling coverage, or Coverage A.

However, there are a few important limitations, including:

1. Windstorm Exclusions in Certain Wind-prone Regions: In some parts of the United States, insurers exclude damage caused by heavy winds, forcing you to buy a separate insurance policy. Homeowners in coastal areas of the Carolinas, Texas, and Florida, for example, may need to buy separate coverage because of this exclusion. Fortunately, these exclusions are less common in the Pacific states. However, check your policy to be sure.
2. Windstorm Deductibles in Certain Wind-Prone Regions: In wind-prone regions of the United States, some insurers charge a separate windstorm deductible. Instead of paying a fixed deductible of $2,500 per loss, for example, you might pay a percentage (typically between 1 and 10%) of the insured value of your home. Depending on the value of your home, this could be a significant difference.

Flood Damage is Not Covered by Standard Homeowners Insurance

Typhoons often bring storm surges, heavy rain, and rising water.

Unfortunately, a standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage.

If you live in a Pacific state or territory and are concerned about flood-related damage from typhoons, then it may be worth buying a separate flood insurance policy.

Some private insurers offer flood insurance. Alternatively, you can buy flood insurance through the US government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) via FloodSmart.gov.

The remnants of Typhoon Halong in October 2025 caused severe flooding in parts of western Alaska, leaving homes submerged and forcing residents to evacuate. This damage is obvious and unexpected, yet a standard homeowners insurance policy won’t cover it – regardless of whether the storm was named, unnamed, or classified as a typhoon.

Water vs. Wind in a Typhoon: The Concurrent Causation Problem

Insurers cover wind damage but not flood damage. What happens when a typhoon causes both types of damage at the same time?

For example:

• Wind tears off your roof, and then rain floods the interior of your home
• Or, a storm surge floods the lower level of your home while wind blows a massive tree branch into your upper floor windows, shattering them

This is called concurrent causation, and it often leads to insurance claim disputes.

Insurers argue in their favor: they tend to claim damage was caused by the non-covered event, giving them reason to lower your claim or deny it altogether.

This is where having a public adjuster can make a huge difference. A licensed public adjuster can inspect the evidence, document the sequence of events, and separate wind damage from water damage. This can maximize your potential payout under your policy.

Find a Public Adjuster

How Insurance Covers Personal Property and Additional Living Expenses

A standard homeowners insurance policy covers personal property and additional living expenses.

If a typhoon damages your personal property (like your laptop or your couch) or forces you to leave your home and incur additional costs, then insurance could cover these costs:

• Personal Property: A standard homeowners insurance policy covers personal property under Coverage C. If a typhoon damages or destroys your property – like furniture, clothing, and electronics – then insurance will compensate you based on the actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost value (RCV) of those items.
• Additional Living Expenses: If a typhoon damages or destroys your home, or if you’re unable to live in your house safely after a typhoon, then insurance covers the cost of hotels, meals, and other additional expenses you incur as a result of the loss. Keep receipts, track everything, and add it to your claim. It’s an ordinary part of homeowners insurance under Coverage D.

Final Thoughts: Verify Coverage Before the Next Storm

Typhoons aren’t as common as hurricanes. However, they can still be deadly and devastating throughout the Pacific Ocean.

Maybe you’re in a Pacific US state like Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, or California. Or, maybe you’re in a Pacific US territory like Guam, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands. Wherever you are, it’s important to check and understand coverage today – before a storm hits.

Need help after a typhoon or severe windstorm? You don’t need to handle your typhoon damage claim alone. Public adjusters can step in at any point of the claim process to ensure you get the fair settlement you deserve.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Contact us today to schedule a free phone consultation and take the first step toward rebuilding after a typhoon.