Florida storm damage · act now
File your hurricane claim today, not when the water dries
A Florida hurricane claim is won or lost on what you do in the first days after landfall: the photos you take, the receipts you keep and how quickly you put the insurer on notice. This page walks you through each move in order, shows the deadlines Florida law puts on you and on your insurance company, and tells you when it is time to bring in a lawyer.
- 1 year to give notice of a new claim (most current losses)
- 60 days for the insurer to pay or deny
- Free case review, no upfront fees
The first 72 hours
Safety first, then evidence, then notice
You do not need a contractor's estimate or a finished inventory before you report. You need a safe house, a record of what the storm did, and a claim number.
Make it safe and document it
- Stay out of flooded rooms and away from downed lines; shut off power at the main if water reached outlets.
- Before you move anything, walk the property with your phone recording video.
- Write down the storm name, the date it made landfall and when you first saw each problem.
Stop the damage from spreading
- Tarp roof openings, board broken windows and start drying out wet rooms.
- Keep every receipt: tarps, fans, dehumidifiers, plywood, mitigation crews, hotel nights.
- Photograph damaged items before you throw them out; keep a sample of wet carpet or drywall if you can.
Report and start the paper trail
- Report through the insurer's app, website or claims line and write down the claim number.
- Follow up in writing (email or portal message) so the date of notice is provable.
- Ask for the adjuster's name and license number, and start a call log.
Evidence
What to photograph before anything is repaired
Wide shots show where the damage is; close-ups show how bad it is. Take both, and keep the original files with their date stamps.
- Every side of the roofMissing or lifted shingles and tiles, exposed decking, damaged flashing, vents and gutters (from the ground or a drone; do not climb a damaged roof).
- Each exterior wallSiding, stucco cracks, soffit and fascia, broken windows, damaged doors and garage doors.
- Every ceiling, room by roomStains, sagging drywall and drips. Water stains often grow for days; photograph them again later.
- Floors and wallsWet carpet, cupped wood, swollen baseboards and water lines on walls, with a tape measure in the frame.
- ContentsFurniture, electronics and appliances, with model and serial number labels where you can read them.
- Outbuildings and the yardFences, screen enclosures, sheds, pool equipment and fallen trees on structures.
- Your temporary repairsThe tarp, the boarded window, the fans running. This proves you protected the property.
- Before photosPull older pictures of the house from your phone or social media; they help show the damage is new.
Six moves
How to report a hurricane claim the right way
Insurers process thousands of claims after a landfall. A clean, documented report moves faster and is harder to short-change. The full walkthrough is in our guide on how to file a hurricane claim in Florida.
Commercial property owners follow the same basic steps; check your policy for any different reporting terms.
Find your policy and declarations page
Note the hurricane deductible, the dwelling limit and any loss-of-use coverage. Your insurer can send a copy if yours was lost.
Report the loss promptly
Florida's statute sets an outside limit, but most policies also require “prompt” notice. Report as soon as it is safe.
Confirm it in writing
Send a short message with the claim number, date of loss, what was damaged and that mitigation is underway.
Mitigate and keep receipts
Reasonable emergency repairs are part of your duties under the policy; their cost is usually part of the claim.
Prepare for the inspection
Be there, show every area, hand over your photo set and write down what the adjuster looked at and what they skipped.
Get the estimate and compare
You are entitled to a copy of the adjuster's detailed estimate. Compare it against what you know is damaged.
Florida law
The clock runs on both sides of your hurricane claim
These are the main statutory timelines for residential policies under current Florida law. Exceptions apply (for example, “factors beyond the control of the insurer” and tolling during mediation), and older losses may follow older rules. See the deadline guide for details.
to give notice of a new or reopened claim, counted from the date of loss, which for a hurricane is the date of landfall.
to give notice of a supplemental claim for additional loss from the same peril.
to review and acknowledge your claim communications, with claim forms and instructions.
to complete a physical inspection after it receives proof-of-loss statements, when an inspection is needed.
to send you a copy of any detailed estimate its adjuster creates.
after notice to pay or deny the claim, in whole or part, with a written explanation. Late payments generally carry interest.
Your hurricane deductible, explained in one minute
Most Florida homeowners policies carry a separate hurricane deductible, often a percentage of the dwelling limit (2%, 5% or 10% are common choices under s. 627.701). On a $300,000 dwelling limit, a 2% deductible is $6,000. It applies to windstorm losses during the statutory “hurricane” period, which starts when the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for any part of Florida and ends 72 hours after the last watch or warning ends (s. 627.4025). It is generally applied once per calendar year, not once per storm.
Can't live at home? Track every extra dollar
If the storm made your home unlivable, the loss-of-use or “additional living expense” part of your policy may cover the increase in your costs: hotel or rental, extra mileage, laundry, meals above your normal grocery bill and pet boarding. It usually pays the difference over normal expenses, not your whole budget, and it has its own limit.
Getting help
Public adjuster or attorney?
Both can work on a disputed claim, but they are licensed differently and can do different things. Many homeowners handle a straightforward claim themselves.
Public adjuster
- Licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services to adjust claims for policyholders.
- Fee capped by s. 626.854(11): 10% of claim payments for a claim from a declared state of emergency during the first year after the declaration, 20% otherwise, and nothing on money the insurer paid before the contract.
- Cancellation rights on the contract: generally 10 days, longer for emergency-event claims.
- May not give legal advice and cannot file a lawsuit for you.
Property insurance attorney
- Licensed by The Florida Bar; can advise on coverage, policy language and your legal options.
- Can send the pre-suit notice required by s. 627.70152, handle appraisal or mediation, and file suit when needed.
- Useful when the insurer denies coverage, misses statutory deadlines, or the gap between estimates is large.
- The Lawgical Firm reviews claims for free and states that it charges no upfront fees.
When it goes wrong
Is your hurricane claim delayed, underpaid or denied?
Each problem has its own fix. Start with the guide that matches where you are.
Free case review
Get a lawyer's eyes on the claim before the deadline does the deciding
The Lawgical Firm, P.A. is a Florida property insurance claims law firm with offices in Orlando and Destin. Its practice includes hurricane and windstorm, roof damage and roof leak, water damage, mold, plumbing leak and commercial property claims.
Send the form or call (407) 433-4131. Have your policy number, claim number, the insurer's letters and your photos ready if you have them; if you don't, call anyway.
Flood damage under a separate flood policy (including NFIP policies) follows different federal rules and deadlines and is not covered by this guide.
Quick answers
How long do I have to report hurricane damage in Florida?
For most current losses, s. 627.70132 bars a new or reopened claim unless notice is given to the insurer within one year after the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. For a hurricane, the date of loss is the date of landfall. Your policy may also require prompt notice, so report as soon as it is safe.
Should I make repairs before the adjuster comes?
Make the emergency repairs needed to stop more damage, such as tarping and drying out, and keep receipts and photos. Hold off on permanent repairs until the damage has been documented and, ideally, inspected, unless waiting would be unsafe or cause more damage.
What if my insurer has not paid or denied after 60 days?
Under s. 627.70131(7), the insurer generally must pay or deny within 60 days after notice of the claim unless factors beyond its control prevent it, and late payments generally carry interest. Ask in writing for the status, and consider contacting the Florida Department of Financial Services or an attorney.
Can a contractor take over my claim?
For residential and commercial property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, Florida generally voids assignments of post-loss benefits (s. 627.7152(13)), so a contractor cannot take over your claim rights by assignment. Read anything a contractor asks you to sign.