Hurricane Wind Endorsement

Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement

The Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement covers a portion of the deductible of the underlying crop insurance policy when the county, or adjacent county, is within the area of sustained hurricane-force winds from a named hurricane that is published by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Effective for the 2023 crop year and forward, this endorsement now includes an option to cover a tropical storm weather event.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the HIP-WI Endorsement, you must:

Have an insurance policy under the Basic Provisions with the same insurance provider.
Elect HIP-WI on or before the Sales Closing Date.
Elect a HIP-WI coverage percentage.
Comply with all terms and conditions of the HIP-WI Endorsement.

To be eligible for the Tropical Storm (TS) option, you must:

Meet all eligibility requirements for HIP-WI.
Elect TS on or before the HIP-WI Sales Closing Date.
The TS option must be available in the actuarial documents.

Eligible coverage

The HIP-WI Endorsement provides coverage for over 70 different crops insured under the Common Crop Insurance Policy, Basic Provisions for both Catastrophic (CAT), and additional coverage policies when provided in the actuarial documents. It is available in counties in the vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, as well as Hawaii. The nearby map shows the availability of HIP-WI.

Insurance period

Generally, the insurance period for HIP-WI:

Begins on the later of the Sales Closing Date or earliest planting date of the crop; and
Ends on the earliest of the end of insurance date or termination date (if there is no end of insurance date for the crop).

Waiting period

The initial year HIP-WI is elected, coverage will not begin until 14 days after the Sales Closing Date. If the underlying crop policy also requires a waiting period, the wait periods will run concurrently. For subsequent years, if you increase your HIP-WI coverage, the increase will not take effect until 14 days after the Sales Closing Date. If a loss event occurs within the 14-day waiting period, HIP-WI coverage will be based on the coverage percentage and coverage range from the previous insured year.

Acreage Reporting requirements

You are not required to submit an additional acreage report for HIP-WI, because HIP-WI uses the underlying policy’s acreage report. The number of eligible acres will be the number of planted or insured acres reported on an acreage report of the underlying policy unless a qualifying event triggers the county prior to you filing an acreage report. If a qualifying event occurs prior to you filing your acreage report and it is the initial year you elect HIP-WI, your HIP-WI eligible acres will be the lesser of the number of acres reported on an intended acreage report or the number of actual planted acres. If a qualifying event occurs prior to you filing your acreage report and it is any subsequent year after you initially elect HIP-WI, your HIP-WI eligible acres will be the lesser of the number of acres planted at the time of the qualifying event or the highest number of planted insurable acres for the crop in the past four (4) years. For crops which do not require an acreage report, such as nursery, use the crop’s equivalent of an acreage report.

Supplemental coverage

The coverage provided by HIP-WI can be combined with the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) when acreage is also insured by a companion policy.

Causes of loss

The full value of the HIP-WI Endorsement is paid if a county, or adjacent county, is within the area of sustained hurricane-force winds, 64 knots (74mph) or greater, from a named hurricane based on data published by the National Hurricane Center. The counties where payments occur will be identified in the actuarial documents. It is possible that your individual farm may experience reduced revenue or reduced yield due to hurricane-related causes and you do not receive an indemnity under HIP-WI. Half of the value of the HIP-WI Endorsement is paid when the TS option is elected and the county or adjacent county is within the area of a tropical storm with sustained surface wind speeds of 39 mph (34 knots) and at least six (6) inches* of total precipitation received over four (4) consecutive days (one day preceding the arrival of the tropical storm, the day of the tropical storm, and two (2) days following the arrival of the tropical storm), according to NOAA and as determined by RMA. You are not required to file a notice of loss.

* 5.900 inches and above of rainfall will be rounded to 6 inches.

Additional Resources: