In the wake of Hurricane Andrew and the devastation to Florida, the state saw the need for options and formed two state insurance carriers. In 2002 they were combined to form Citizens Property Insurance. Citizens offers discounts of up to 45% on Hurricane Insurance for such things as: "opening protection" or shutters/impact glass and doors, the shape of your roof and how its attached, and the discounts can vary depending on they types of "mitigation" found. To obtain these credits, you must have a "mitigation" or windstorm inspection done by a licensed expert on the accepted forms and submit them along with photos for verification. Hurricane insurance can sometimes be obtained as part of or separate from your homeowners policy.