What does a Savannah or coastal Georgia homeowner need to know about insurance?

Tybee Island and coastal Savannah properties require a coverage approach that differs significantly from inland Georgia. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood, and many policies in Chatham County carry windstorm and hail deductibles that are percentage-based rather than flat dollar amounts. Properties on Tybee Island in FEMA Zone AE must carry flood insurance if a federally backed loan is secured. The combination of flood plus windstorm plus homeowners on a Tybee home can produce total premiums of $4,000 to $12,000 per year. We coordinate all three policies to ensure there are no coverage gaps between the windstorm, flood, and standard homeowners provisions.