Steps to file a hurricane damage insurance claim

Steps to file a hurricane damage insurance claim

File a hurricane damage claim by documenting the damage with photos and video before any repairs, reviewing your policy for coverage and deadlines, notifying your insurer in writing as soon as possible, completing a proof of loss if required, and keeping detailed records of all communications, receipts, and estimates. Contact a Florida property insurance attorney if your insurer delays, underpays, or denies the claim.

Step 1: Secure the Property and Prevent Further Damage

Before anything else, make sure everyone is safe and the property is stable enough to enter. Once it's safe:

• Make temporary repairs only — tarp a damaged roof, board up broken windows, or shut off water to a burst pipe. Most Florida homeowners policies require the policyholder to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and failing to do so can give the insurer grounds to reduce a payout.
• Do not make permanent repairs before the damage is documented and, ideally, before an adjuster has inspected the property. Once repairs are made, the physical evidence of the loss is gone.
• Keep every receipt for tarps, plywood, generator fuel, water mitigation, or temporary lodging. These mitigation costs are typically reimbursable under your policy, but only if you can prove what you spent and why.
• Watch out for storm-chasing contractors. After a hurricane, unlicensed or out-of-state contractors often go door to door pressuring homeowners to sign contracts or "assignment of benefits" (AOB) paperwork on the spot. Read anything before you sign it, and don't sign away your right to negotiate directly with your own insurer unless you fully understand what you're giving up.

Step 2: Document Everything Before You Touch a Thing

Thorough documentation is the single biggest factor in whether a hurricane claim gets paid fairly. Insurance adjusters work from what they can see and what you can prove — not from what actually happened.

• Photograph and video every room and every exterior surface, including the roof if you can safely view it (from the ground, a drone, or a ladder — never climb onto a damaged roof). Capture wide shots for context and close-ups of specific damage.
• Note the date and time each photo was taken; most phones embed this automatically, but back it up by also writing a dated damage log.
• List damaged and destroyed personal property room by room — furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, and other belongings. Include approximate purchase dates and values where you can, and pull receipts, bank/credit card statements, or photos of the items from before the storm if available.
• Keep the damaged materials (samples of roofing, drywall, flooring) when practical, in case the insurer disputes the cause or extent of damage later.
• Get a written estimate from a licensed contractor or public adjuster for the cost of repairs. This becomes an important benchmark if the insurance company's own estimate comes in low.

Step 3: Review Your Policy Before You Call the Insurer

Pull your homeowners, condo, flood, or wind policy and read it — specifically:

• What perils are covered. Standard homeowners policies generally cover wind damage, but flood damage from storm surge or rising water is almost always excluded and requires a separate flood policy (typically NFIP or private flood insurance).
• Your deductible, and whether a separate, often higher, hurricane deductible applies. Florida homeowners policies commonly carry a distinct hurricane deductible (calculated as a percentage of dwelling coverage) that's different from your all-other-perils deductible — know which one applies to your loss.
• Notice and proof-of-loss deadlines. Florida law and most policies impose strict windows for reporting a claim and submitting a sworn proof of loss after a hurricane. Missing these deadlines can jeopardize your right to recover, so check your specific policy language and don't wait to find out the deadline the hard way.
• Additional Living Expenses (ALE) / Loss of Use coverage, which can reimburse hotel, temporary rental, and extra food costs if your home is uninhabitable.
• Ordinance or law coverage, which can help pay for the added cost of rebuilding to current building codes.

Step 4: Notify Your Insurance Company and Open the Claim

• Report the claim as soon as reasonably possible — by phone, through the insurer's app or website, and in writing (email or certified letter) so you have a paper trail. Get a claim number immediately.
• Give a factual, consistent account of what happened and when. Don't speculate about cause or extent of damage — describe what you observed.
• Ask directly when an adjuster will be assigned and roughly when to expect an inspection, especially in the weeks after a major hurricane when insurers are handling a high volume of claims.
• Start a claim file — a single folder (physical or digital) with your claim number, adjuster's name and contact information, every email, every letter, and notes from every phone call (date, time, who you spoke with, what was said).

Step 5: Prepare for and Attend the Adjuster's Inspection

The insurance company will send an adjuster (a company adjuster or an independent adjuster hired by the insurer) to inspect the damage. This inspection heavily influences what the insurer offers to pay.

• Be present, or have someone you trust present, during the inspection. Walk the adjuster through every area of damage — don't assume they'll find everything on their own.
• Bring your own documentation and contractor estimate so there's an independent record to compare against the adjuster's findings.
• Consider hiring a public adjuster — a licensed professional who works for you, not the insurance company, and can prepare and negotiate the claim on your behalf for a percentage fee. This is optional but can be valuable for large or complex losses.
• Take your own photos during the inspection showing what the adjuster examined.

Step 6: Submit a Sworn Proof of Loss (If Required)

Many policies require a sworn proof of loss — a formal, notarized statement of the amount you're claiming and how you calculated it — within a set number of days of the insurer's request. This is a legal document, not a formality, and errors or omissions can be used against you later. If your policy requires one, get help preparing it accurately and submit it before the deadline.

Step 7: Review the Settlement Offer Carefully

When the insurer responds with a settlement offer (or a denial), don't assume the first number is final or fair.

• Compare the insurer's estimate to your contractor's estimate line by line. Look for missing damage, incorrect pricing, or underestimated scope of repairs.
• Ask for a written explanation of any denied items or reduced amounts, citing the specific policy language relied on.
• Know that a lowball offer, unreasonable delay, or denial isn't necessarily the end of the process. Florida law provides policyholders tools to dispute an insurer's decision, and many underpaid or denied claims are successfully resolved through further negotiation, appraisal, or litigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long do I have to file a hurricane claim in Florida? A: Florida law and your specific policy set a deadline for reporting hurricane damage, and it is shorter than most homeowners expect. Don't wait — report the damage as soon as you reasonably can, and check your policy declarations page or ask an attorney for the exact deadline that applies to your claim.

Q: Does my homeowners policy cover flood damage from a hurricane? A: Generally, no. Standard homeowners policies typically cover wind and wind-driven rain damage but exclude flood damage, including storm surge. Flood damage usually requires a separate flood insurance policy, most commonly through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood carrier.

Q: What if my insurance company denies my hurricane claim? A: A denial is not final. You can request a written explanation citing the specific policy provision used to deny the claim, get an independent estimate or public adjuster opinion, and pursue appraisal or legal action if the denial appears inconsistent with your policy or the actual damage. An attorney can evaluate whether the denial was proper.

Q: Should I sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) with a contractor? A: Be cautious. An AOB transfers your right to claim payments (and sometimes to negotiate or sue the insurer) to the contractor. It can simplify repairs but also removes your control over the claim. Read any AOB carefully before signing, and consider getting legal advice first, especially with contractors who approach you unsolicited after a storm.

Q: What is a hurricane deductible and how is it different from my regular deductible? A: Many Florida homeowners policies apply a separate, percentage-based hurricane deductible that only triggers for named storms, and it's typically higher than your standard all-other-perils deductible. Check your policy declarations page to see which deductible applies and how it's calculated for your specific loss.

Q: Do I need a lawyer to file a hurricane damage claim? A: Not necessarily to file the initial claim, but if your insurer delays, underpays, lowballs the estimate, or denies coverage, an attorney can review your policy, challenge the insurer's position, and pursue the full amount you're owed — often at no upfront cost to you.

Talk to a Florida Attorney

If your hurricane claim has been delayed, undervalued, or denied, you don't have to accept the insurance company's first answer. Louis Law Group represents Florida property owners fighting for the full value of their hurricane damage claims. See if you qualify for a free case review, or call (833) 657-4812 to speak with someone today.