Seasonal & event guides
Short, general guides tied to common times of year when insurance questions tend to come up — storm season, wildfire season, winter weather, and back-to-school. Every guide is available year-round; a relevant one may also appear as a dismissible note near the top of the site during its general season.
About this guide: this is a general seasonal awareness guide built from public concepts, not personalized advice. Exact timing, rules, and available coverage vary by state, insurer, and individual policy. This site provides general educational information only. Insurance is regulated by state and rates vary widely. Consult a licensed professional or insurer for advice specific to your situation. Data is based on publicly available averages and may not reflect current individual rates.
Choose a guide
Hurricane & Storm Season
June–November. Wind vs. flood coverage, prep habits, and a claims tip.
Wildfire Season
May–October. What's typically covered, FAIR Plans, and prep habits.
Winter Weather
December–February. Frozen pipes, ice dams, sewer backup, and winter driving.
Back-to-School
August–September. Adding a new driver and renters coverage for students.
Why a banner sometimes appears
A small, dismissible note may appear near the top of any page when today's date falls within a guide's general season (for example, a hurricane-season note from June through November). It's a simple date check that runs in your browser — it doesn't use your location, and dismissing it only hides it for that browser session. You can always reach every guide from this page.
Why seasons matter for insurance
Many insurance surprises are predictable by time of year. Storm and wildfire seasons tend to bring claims, and with them discoveries that flood is excluded, that a deductible is a percentage of the home's value rather than a flat dollar amount, or that a policy can't be changed once a storm is approaching. Winter brings frozen pipes and ice-related claims, and late summer brings new drivers and students moving into dorms and first apartments. Reading about these topics before the season starts leaves time to act.
What each guide covers
- Hurricane & storm season: how wind and flood coverage differ, why flood generally requires a separate policy with its own waiting period, how percentage deductibles work, and how to document belongings before a storm.
- Wildfire season: what standard policies typically cover, what state-run FAIR Plans are, how loss-of-use coverage helps with temporary housing, and low-cost preparation habits.
- Winter weather: frozen pipes, ice dams, sewer backup, and how winter driving claims typically work.
- Back-to-school: adding a newly licensed driver, whether a dorm room is covered by a parent's policy, and renters coverage for students.
A simple preparedness checklist
Regardless of season, a few habits make every claim easier: keep a photo or video inventory of your belongings, store a copy of your declarations page somewhere you can reach without your home, know your deductibles (including any percentage deductibles), and confirm which perils are excluded. The renters and homeowners guides explain how to build the inventory and what to look for in your policy.