How to file a hurricane claim in Florida

Knowing how to file a hurricane claim is mostly about sequence. Homeowners who report quickly, protect the house, document everything and keep the conversation in writing tend to get cleaner decisions than those who wait for a contractor's estimate before calling the insurer. This guide follows the order that works under Florida law and a typical homeowners policy. Your own policy controls the details, so keep it open as you go.

Step 1: Get your policy and declarations page

The declarations page is the one- or two-page summary at the front of the policy. It lists the coverage limits (dwelling, other structures, personal property and loss of use), the all-other-perils deductible and the separate hurricane deductible. If the paper copy is gone, most insurers post it in the online account; you can also ask your agent. Request the full policy, including endorsements, because exclusions and conditions live there, not on the declarations page.

While you have it open, note three things: the dollar amount of your hurricane deductible, whether you have replacement cost or actual cash value coverage on the dwelling and contents, and your loss-of-use limit for additional living expenses.

Step 2: Report the loss as soon as it is safe

Florida sets an outer limit for notice in s. 627.70132. For most current losses, a new or reopened claim is barred 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 statute treats the date of landfall as the date of loss. Policies also typically require “prompt” notice, and insurers sometimes argue that a long wait made it harder to tell storm damage from later damage. So the practical deadline is now, not next year. Our Florida hurricane claim deadline calculator counts the statutory dates for you.

When you report, have ready: your policy number, the storm name and landfall date, the property address, a short description of what was damaged (roof, ceilings, windows, fence, contents), whether the home is livable, and a phone number and email that work. You do not need a repair estimate to open the claim.

Step 3: Put the report in writing

Phone reports are fine for speed, but the record should be written. The same day, send an email or portal message that states the claim number, the date of loss, the main areas of damage, that you are taking steps to prevent further damage, and that you want a copy of any estimate the adjuster prepares. Save the insurer's automatic replies. If a dispute ever turns on when notice was given, this message is the proof.

Under s. 627.70131(1), an insurer must generally review and acknowledge a claim communication within 7 calendar days, and its response to a notice of claim must include the forms, instructions and a phone number you need, unless it reasonably explains that the claim appears not to be covered. Personal residential policyholders should also receive the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights from the insurer within 14 days after the first communication about the claim (s. 627.7142).

Step 4: Protect the property and keep every receipt

Homeowners policies generally require you to take reasonable steps to protect the property from further damage. In practice that means tarping roof openings, boarding broken windows, removing standing water, running fans and dehumidifiers, and removing wet materials that would grow mold. Keep the receipts for supplies and any mitigation company, plus photos of the work. Many policies limit what you can spend on emergency measures without the insurer's approval, so check the wording and tell the insurer in writing what you are doing.

Do not throw away damaged materials until they have been photographed, and when practical keep samples (a piece of carpet and pad, a section of wet drywall, a few damaged shingles). If an item must go for health reasons, photograph the label, model and serial number first.

Step 5: Build your evidence file

Create one folder, paper or digital, and put everything in it: photos and video (with original date stamps), the claim number, a call log (date, person, what was said), all letters and emails, receipts, and the contents inventory. The hurricane claim checklist lists every item and remembers what you have finished on your device.

For contents, list each damaged item with a description, approximate age, where it was bought and what a replacement costs today. Bank and card statements, online order histories and old photos help establish ownership.

Step 6: Complete any proof of loss the insurer requests

Many policies let the insurer ask for a sworn proof of loss, a signed statement of the amount you claim with supporting documents, within a set number of days after the request. Read the request carefully, note the due date, and respond on time. If you do not yet know the full amount, say so and explain what is still being assessed; ask the insurer in writing for more time if you need it. Statements in a sworn proof of loss matter, so be accurate rather than fast.

The proof-of-loss date also starts certain insurer timelines: under s. 627.70131(3), an insurer that needs to investigate must generally begin within 7 days after it receives proof-of-loss statements and complete any physical inspection within 30 days.

Step 7: Be present for the adjuster inspection

The adjuster must give you a document with their name and Florida license number (s. 627.70131(3)(b)). Walk the adjuster through every room and every side of the exterior, including the attic if it is safe. Hand over a copy of your photos rather than relying on what they capture. Write down what they inspected, what they measured, and anything they said about coverage. If they did not get on the roof or into the attic, note that too.

It is fine to have your own contractor or roofer present. Do not sign anything at the inspection you have not read, and do not agree to a repair scope on the spot.

Step 8: Get the estimate and compare it line by line

An insurer must send you a copy of any detailed estimate of the loss its adjuster generates within 7 days after it is created (s. 627.70131(3)(e)). Compare it against your own list: are all rooms and elevations included, are the quantities right, does it price the materials you actually have (tile versus shingle, impact windows versus standard), and does it include items such as permits, debris removal and code-required upgrades? If you have ordinance-or-law coverage, code upgrades may be covered up to that limit.

If the numbers are far apart, see our guide on an underpaid hurricane claim for the options, including a supplemental claim, mediation and appraisal.

Step 9: Track the 60-day decision

Under s. 627.70131(7)(a), within 60 days after receiving notice of an initial, reopened or supplemental claim, the insurer must pay or deny the claim, in whole or in part, unless factors beyond its control reasonably prevent it. It must explain in writing the reason for any payment, denial or partial denial. Late payments generally carry interest from the date notice was received. Those time limits can be tolled, for example during state-run mediation or if you do not provide requested material information within 10 days.

If the 60 days pass without a decision, our page on a delayed hurricane claim explains what to send and where to escalate. If the answer is a denial, read the denied hurricane claim guide.

Mistakes that cost Florida homeowners money

• Waiting for a contractor before reporting. Report first. Estimates come later.
• Cleaning up before photographing. Once debris is gone, the evidence is too.
• Signing an assignment of benefits. For policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, post-loss assignments under property policies are generally void (s. 627.7152(13)), but read every contractor document before you sign.
• Cashing a check without reading the letter. Understand what the payment covers and whether anything was denied.
• Relying only on phone calls. If it was not written down, it is hard to prove.

When to call a lawyer

Many claims resolve without one. Consider a free legal review if the insurer denies coverage, claims the damage is pre-existing or caused by flood rather than wind, misses its statutory deadlines, asks for an examination under oath, or offers far less than repairs cost. Before most property insurance lawsuits, Florida now requires a written pre-suit notice at least 10 business days before filing (s. 627.70152), and the notice cannot be sent before the insurer makes a coverage decision. You can reach The Lawgical Firm at (407) 433-4131 or through the free case review form.