At a time when policyholders are facing higher premiums and a greater probability of hurricane damage, agents need as many tools as possible to assist their clients in having adequate coverage. One area that is especially of focus is wind deductibles. Retail agents have become all too familiar with the changes that insurance carriers have made concerning wind deductibles. Over the past several years, deductibles have reached higher levels that include deductibles of two percent, three percent, and five percent. Deductibles of seven and 10 percent are seen as well.

Wind buy-back insurance is one product agents can offer to their clients, which provides an option for policyholders to lower their wind deductible under a separate policy. The wind buy-back policy exclusively covers wind damage and it serves to help satisfy a homeowners' deductible, which must be exhausted before the homeowners' policy applies. Thus a policyholder whose property sustains hurricane damage must first pay their deductible, after which the wind buy-back policy applies, and finally their regular homeowners' policy. The availability of the buy-back coverage is always subject to market conditions, i.e., capacity and reinsurance.

Florida's risk of major hurricanes is well documented. Going back to 1993, it has been suggested that Hurricane Andrew's peak winds in south Florida were not correctly measured at their highest speed because the measuring instruments were destroyed. An automated station at Fowey Rocks reported 142 mph sustained winds with gusts to 169 mph (measured 144 feet above the ground), and higher wind speeds may have occurred after the station was damaged and stopped reporting. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association's National Hurricane Center had a peak gust of 164 mph — measured 130 feet above the ground — while a 177 mph gust was measured at a private home.