Living in Southeast Louisiana means understanding one unavoidable reality: hurricane season is not a matter of if, but when. From New Orleans to Metairie, from Mandeville to the rest of the Northshore, every homeowner in our region needs to ask one critical question before June 1st rolls around each year — is my home truly protected?
At Chabert Insurance The Ehrhardt Agency, we work with homeowners across Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, St. Tammany Parish, and beyond to make sure their coverage is ready before a storm ever forms in the Gulf. In this post, we’re breaking down exactly what you need to review — and why waiting until a storm is named is already too late.
Why Hurricane Season Hits Differently in Southeast Louisiana
Louisiana consistently ranks as one of the most hurricane-vulnerable states in the country — and Southeast Louisiana sits right in the crosshairs. The combination of coastal geography, low elevation, aging infrastructure, and our proximity to the Gulf of Mexico means that even a storm that doesn’t make a direct hit can cause catastrophic flooding, wind damage, and extended power outages.
Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Louisiana homeowners insurance market has transformed dramatically. Many national carriers have reduced their footprint or exited the state entirely, leaving homeowners with fewer options and — in many cases — policies they don’t fully understand. That’s exactly where working with a local, independent insurance agent makes all the difference.
As an independent agency, Chabert Insurance The Ehrhardt Agency works with multiple carriers to find the right coverage for your specific home, neighborhood, and risk profile — whether you’re in a high-risk flood zone in New Orleans East, a newer subdivision in Mandeville, or a historic home in Metairie.
The Most Common Coverage Gaps We See in Louisiana Homeowners Policies
After reviewing hundreds of policies across the Greater New Orleans area, here are the gaps we see most often — and the ones that cost homeowners the most when a storm hits:
1. Flood Insurance Is NOT Included in Your Homeowners Policy
This is the most critical thing every Louisiana homeowner must understand. Your standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage — period. Flood insurance must be purchased separately, either through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or through a private flood carrier.
Many homeowners in Mandeville, Covington, and other Northshore communities assume they don’t need flood insurance because they’re “not in a flood zone.” The reality is that over 20% of flood claims come from properties outside of high-risk flood zones. The question isn’t whether you’re in a flood zone — it’s whether you can afford to rebuild without flood coverage.
2. Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost
If your policy pays Actual Cash Value (ACV) instead of Replacement Cost Value (RCV), you could receive significantly less than it actually costs to rebuild after a storm. ACV accounts for depreciation — meaning a 15-year-old roof might only pay out a fraction of what a new roof costs today. With construction costs in Louisiana at historic highs since recent storms, this gap can be devastating.
3. Ordinance or Law Coverage
If your home is damaged and local building codes have changed since it was built, you may be required to bring the entire structure up to current code when rebuilding — not just repair the damaged portion. In older neighborhoods across New Orleans and Metairie, this can add tens of thousands of dollars to a repair bill that your standard policy won’t cover without Ordinance or Law coverage.
4. Wind & Hail Deductibles
Many Louisiana homeowners policies have a separate, higher deductible that applies specifically to wind and hail claims — often 2% to 5% of your home’s insured value. On a $300,000 home, that’s a $6,000 to $15,000 out-of-pocket expense before insurance kicks in. Do you know what your wind deductible is? If you’re not sure, that’s a conversation we need to have before hurricane season.
Your Pre-Hurricane Season Coverage Checklist
Here’s what every homeowner in the New Orleans metro area and Northshore should review before June 1st:
- Review your homeowners policy dwelling limit — does it reflect what it would actually cost to rebuild your home today?
- Confirm whether your policy pays Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value for your dwelling and personal property
- Check your wind and hail deductible — know your number before a storm forms
- Review your flood insurance coverage — do you have it? Is the coverage amount adequate?
- Ask about Ordinance or Law coverage — especially important for homes built before 2000
- Check your loss of use / additional living expenses coverage — where will you live if your home is uninhabitable after a storm?
- Review your personal property coverage — do you have a home inventory?
- Ask about any exclusions specific to your policy or carrier
| Don’t Wait Until a Storm Is Named Insurance carriers routinely place moratoriums on new policies and coverage changes when a named storm enters the Gulf of Mexico. Once a storm is named, it may be too late to add flood coverage, increase your dwelling limit, or make any meaningful changes to your policy. The time to review your coverage is now — not when you’re watching the Weather Channel tracking a Category 3 in the Gulf. |
Why Louisiana Homeowners Choose an Independent Agent
Unlike captive agents who can only offer one company’s products, independent agents like Chabert Insurance The Ehrhardt Agency work with multiple carriers to find the right fit for your home and budget. In a market as complex and carrier-depleted as Louisiana’s, this flexibility is invaluable.
We understand the unique challenges of insuring homes in Southeast Louisiana — the coastal exposure, the flood zones, the aging housing stock, the carrier appetite issues. We work with admitted carriers, non-admitted markets, surplus lines carriers, and specialty programs to make sure our clients have options.
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer in Mandeville trying to understand what coverage you need, a longtime New Orleans homeowner whose carrier just non-renewed your policy, or a real estate investor in Metairie looking for dwelling coverage on rental properties — we’re here to help.
Serving Homeowners Across Southeast Louisiana
Chabert Insurance The Ehrhardt Agency proudly serves homeowners across the Greater New Orleans metro area and the Northshore, including:
- New Orleans (Orleans Parish)
- Metairie & Kenner (Jefferson Parish)
- Mandeville, Covington & Madisonville (St. Tammany Parish)
- Slidell & Lacombe (St. Tammany Parish)
- Laplace & Reserve (St. John the Baptist Parish)
- Gonzales & Prairieville (Ascension Parish)
- Surrounding Southeast Louisiana communities
| Ready to Review Your Coverage Before Hurricane Season? Don’t wait until a storm is named. Contact Chabert Insurance The Ehrhardt Agency today for a free policy review. We’ll make sure your home is protected before hurricane season gets into full swing. 📞 Call or Text: 504-326-6526 🌐 Visit: protectedbychabert.com 📍 Serving Mandeville & New Orleans, Louisiana |
