What to Do After a Hurricane: Filing Your Florida Insurance Claim

Filing a Florida hurricane insurance claim the right way

After a hurricane rolls through Polk County or anywhere else in Central Florida, the damage can feel overwhelming. The roof is torn, the fence is down, water got into the living room, and your phone is ringing with calls from public adjusters who somehow already have your address. Before that noise takes over, understanding how a Florida hurricane insurance claim actually works will protect your payout. This post covers every step, from the first hours after the storm to the day your check clears.

What to do in the first 24 to 48 hours after a hurricane

The actions you take immediately after a storm often determine how smoothly your claim goes. Insurance companies look at documentation, timelines, and whether you took reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Here is what matters most right away.

Make sure the property is safe to enter

Do not walk into a structure with visible foundation damage, downed power lines nearby, or a compromised roof. Florida's building codes require that a home with major structural damage be cleared before re-entry. Your safety comes first, and a claim can be filed from a hotel room just as easily as from your living room.

Document everything before you touch anything

Take photos and video of every damaged area before moving debris or making any repairs. Capture wide shots to show the overall scope, then close-up shots of specific damage. Include timestamps if your phone allows it. Record serial numbers on any damaged appliances or electronics. This visual evidence is the foundation of your Florida hurricane insurance claim and it cannot be recreated after cleanup begins.

Make emergency repairs to prevent further damage

Florida homeowners policies require policyholders to take "reasonable steps" to prevent additional loss after a covered event. That means tarping a damaged roof, boarding up broken windows, or removing standing water. Keep every receipt for materials you buy. Your insurer can reimburse these temporary repair costs, but only if you have the receipts. Do not make permanent repairs until the adjuster has inspected.

How to notify your insurance company

Call your insurance company or file online as soon as you safely can. Florida law under Section 627.70132 requires that a hurricane damage claim be reported within three years of the date of loss for policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2023. Reporting quickly almost always leads to faster settlements and fewer disputes about when damage occurred. The sooner you call, the sooner an adjuster is assigned.

When you call, have the following ready:

• Policy number , found on your declarations page or in your insurer's mobile app.
• Date and time of loss : use the date the hurricane made landfall or passed through your area.
• Description of damage : a general overview is fine at this stage; the adjuster will gather specifics.
• Your contact information and a safe callback number , especially important if you have evacuated.

Get a claim number and the name of the adjuster assigned to your file. Write it down. You will need this reference for every future conversation.

Understanding your Florida homeowners policy after a hurricane

This is where a lot of homeowners get surprised. Florida homeowners policies handle hurricane damage differently than other covered perils, and there are a few specific things to watch for.

Hurricane deductibles are separate from your regular deductible

Florida insurers are allowed to charge a hurricane deductible that is separate from your standard all-perils deductible. These deductibles are typically expressed as a percentage of your dwelling coverage, not a flat dollar amount. Common amounts are 2%, 3%, or 5% of Coverage A (your home's insured value). On a home insured for $300,000, a 2% hurricane deductible means you pay the first $6,000 out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Check your declarations page now, before the next storm, so the number does not catch you off guard during a claim.

This hurricane deductible applies once per hurricane season per named storm, depending on your policy language. If your area was struck by two named storms in one season, review your policy carefully or ask your agent which deductible applies.

Wind vs. flood damage: two separate claims

Standard homeowners insurance covers wind damage. It does not cover flooding from storm surge or heavy rain that enters through the ground. If your home had both wind damage and water intrusion from rising water, you are likely dealing with two separate claims under two separate policies. Your National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy or private flood policy handles the flooding side. This is one of the most common points of confusion after a major Florida hurricane, and it is also where disputes between insurers can stall your settlement. If you do not yet have a flood policy, the Florida flood insurance guide on our site explains what coverage looks like and why it matters even if you are not in a high-risk zone.

Additional living expenses (ALE) coverage

If your home is uninhabitable after a hurricane, your policy's Loss of Use or Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage pays for hotel stays, short-term rentals, meals above your normal food budget, and similar costs while repairs are underway. This coverage is not unlimited. It is typically capped at 20-30% of your Coverage A amount and runs for a defined period. Keep every receipt for every expense from the day you had to leave your home.

Working with the insurance adjuster

After you file your Florida hurricane insurance claim , an adjuster will be assigned. In the aftermath of a major storm, there can be a backlog of thousands of claims statewide, so response times vary. The following steps help you get the most out of the inspection process.

Be present during the inspection

Walk through every damaged area with the adjuster and point out everything you documented. Do not assume they will find it on their own. Roofs, attic spaces, outbuildings, fencing, pool equipment, and screened enclosures are all commonly missed when homeowners are not present to walk the adjuster through the full scope.

Get your own contractor estimate

You are not required to accept the insurer's initial estimate as final. Get at least one independent contractor estimate for the repair work. If the numbers differ significantly, you have documentation to support a supplement to your claim. Florida law gives you the right to dispute the insurer's damage estimate through the appraisal process outlined in most policies, where each party selects an appraiser and a neutral umpire resolves disagreements.

Know the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost

If your policy pays Actual Cash Value (ACV) , the insurer will deduct depreciation from the settlement. An older roof or aging air handler will be paid at its depreciated value, not what it costs to replace today. If your policy pays Replacement Cost Value (RCV) , you receive the full cost to repair or replace with like materials after completing the repair and submitting the final invoice. Check which type your policy uses before you assume the settlement amount is the full picture.

Common mistakes that slow down or reduce your Florida hurricane claim

These are the patterns that cause homeowners to leave money on the table or wait months longer than necessary for a resolution.

• Throwing away damaged items. Keep damaged materials on-site until the adjuster inspects, or photograph them thoroughly before disposal.
• Signing an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) too quickly. Florida has restricted AOB abuse, but contractors who pressure you to sign over your claim rights are still out there. Understand what you are signing before you do.
• Missing the reporting window. While Florida's three-year window gives you time, delays often mean lost documentation and adjuster backlogs. File promptly.
• Accepting the first check without reviewing the scope. A partial payment is not a final settlement. Cashing an ACV check does not waive your right to the recoverable depreciation holdback on an RCV policy once repairs are complete.
• Not keeping a claim diary. Log every phone call, every email, every visit from an adjuster. Record the date, the name of the person you spoke with, and what was discussed. This record becomes important if the claim goes sideways.

What to do if your claim is underpaid or denied

Florida law gives homeowners specific rights when a claim goes wrong. If your claim is denied or you believe the settlement is too low, you have options.

First, request a written explanation of the denial or the scope of coverage applied. Florida insurers are required to acknowledge claims within 14 days and either pay or deny within 90 days under most circumstances. If the insurer misses those deadlines or acts in bad faith, you may have a claim under Florida's bad faith statutes.

Second, use the appraisal clause in your policy if the dispute is about the dollar amount of damage rather than whether the damage is covered at all. This is faster and cheaper than litigation in most cases.

Third, contact the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) to file a consumer complaint. The DFS has authority to investigate insurer conduct and can sometimes facilitate resolution without an attorney.

If your policy covers personal property, it is also worth reviewing our overview of Florida homeowners insurance to confirm your current coverage limits still reflect what it would actually cost to rebuild or replace your belongings today, particularly given how much construction costs have risen since 2020.

How Garland Insurance helps you through a hurricane claim

Filing a claim on your own is entirely possible, but having an independent agent available makes it easier. As an independent agency, Garland Insurance works for you, not for any single insurance company. That means when you placed your coverage through us, we compared carriers and policy structures with your actual needs in mind. When a storm hits, we are a local resource who knows your policy and can help you understand what is covered, what to document, and how to push back if an adjuster's estimate seems off.

If you are reviewing your current coverage after a storm, or thinking through whether your limits, deductibles, and flood coverage are in the right place before the next hurricane season, reach out to the team at Garland Insurance. We can review your existing policy, walk through your deductibles, and make sure your protection reflects where you actually stand. You can also explore how bundling your home and auto coverage might lower your overall cost, which we cover in our post on bundling home and auto insurance for savings.

Call us at (863) 683-9334 or contact Garland Insurance online to talk through your coverage before hurricane season puts it to the test.