What should i do after a storm if i have hartford insurance?

What should i do after a storm if i have hartford insurance?

If you have Hartford homeowners insurance and just went through a storm, your first moves are: get everyone safe, make temporary repairs to stop further damage, photograph and document everything before you touch or discard anything, then report your claim to Hartford immediately by phone, online, or through the mobile app. In Florida, you must notify Hartford within one year of the storm date or you lose the right to claim at all.

Step 1: Handle safety and prevent further damage first

Before you think about insurance, make sure the property is safe to be in or near. Storms leave behind downed power lines, unstable roofs, weakened trees, and gas leaks that aren't always obvious.

• Stay out of any structure with visible structural damage, sagging ceilings, or exposed wiring until it's been inspected.
• Photograph everything before you make any temporary repairs — this is your evidence.
• Make only the repairs necessary to prevent further damage (tarping a hole in the roof, boarding a broken window, shutting off water to a burst pipe). Most policies, including Hartford's, require you to take reasonable steps to prevent additional loss.
• Keep every receipt for materials, tarps, plywood, and any contractor you pay for emergency work — Hartford will reimburse reasonable mitigation costs as part of your claim, but only if you can show the expense.
• Do not throw away damaged items or start full repairs until the damage has been documented and, ideally, an adjuster has seen it. If an item genuinely must be discarded for health or safety reasons, photograph it from multiple angles first and keep a sample or the model/serial number if possible.

Step 2: Document the damage thoroughly

Insurance claims are won or lost on documentation. Before you call Hartford, walk the property and build a complete record.

• Photos and video of every affected area — roof, siding, windows, fencing, interior ceilings and walls, flooring, and personal property. Wide shots for context, close-ups for detail.
• A written inventory of damaged or destroyed personal property, including brand, model number, approximate age, and purchase price where you can find it.
• Exterior and structural damage — missing shingles, cracked stucco, damaged gutters, fallen trees or limbs, fence and pool cage damage.
• Water intrusion — stains, warped flooring, wet drywall, and mold that may develop in the days after the storm (mold can be excluded or limited under some policies if it isn't reported quickly).
• Weather verification — note the date and, if available, save a link to NOAA or National Weather Service confirmation of the storm's timing and intensity in your area. For hurricanes, Florida law defines the "date of loss" as the date the storm made landfall, as verified by NOAA, which matters for your filing deadline.

Step 3: Report the claim to Hartford right away

Don't wait to see if damage "gets worse" or to finish repairs before reporting. Report first, then let Hartford's process run alongside your repair work.

• File your First Notice of Loss (FNOL) online, through the Hartford mobile app, or by phone. Hartford's claims line is 800-243-5860 for standard policyholders; AARP-branded Hartford policyholders use 877-805-9918.
• Have your policy number, the date and time of the storm, a description of the damage, and your documentation ready when you call or file online.
• Ask for your claim number and the name/contact information of the claims professional assigned to your file. Get this in writing (email or the online portal) so you have a record.
• Under Florida law, Hartford must acknowledge receipt of your claim communication within 7 calendar days.
• Keep a claim diary: every call, email, adjuster visit, and document you send or receive, with dates. This becomes critical if the claim is delayed, underpaid, or denied.

Step 4: Know Florida's claim deadlines and Hartford's response timelines

Florida has some of the strictest and most specific insurance-claim deadlines in the country, and they apply to Hartford the same as any other carrier writing property policies in the state.

Deadline	Timeframe	Governing rule
Report a new property claim	Within 1 year of the date of loss	Fla. Stat. §627.70132
Report a supplemental claim (added damage from the same storm)	Within 18 months of the date of loss	Fla. Stat. §627.70132
Insurer must acknowledge your claim	Within 7 calendar days	Florida law
Insurer must inspect the property (if requested)	Within a reasonable, statutorily-limited window	Fla. Stat. §627.70131
Insurer must pay, deny, or partially pay the claim	Within 60 days of receiving notice, absent factors beyond the insurer's control	Fla. Stat. §627.70131
Lawsuit for breach of the insurance contract	Generally within 5 years of the breach	Florida's contract statute of limitations

If you miss the one-year notice deadline, Hartford can deny your claim outright regardless of how legitimate the damage is — Florida courts treat this as a strict bar, not a guideline. Don't assume a verbal report to an agent satisfies this requirement; make sure the claim is formally filed and you have confirmation.

Step 5: Prepare for the adjuster's inspection

Hartford will typically send a claims professional or independent adjuster to inspect the damage before issuing payment.

• Walk the adjuster through every area of damage yourself — don't assume they'll find everything on their own, especially attic, roof, and hidden interior damage.
• Provide your photos, video, and inventory directly to the adjuster and ask that they be attached to the claim file.
• Get a copy of the adjuster's estimate or scope of damage after the inspection. Compare it line-by-line against your own documentation and, if you've gotten one, a contractor's estimate.
• If the adjuster's estimate is significantly lower than what a licensed contractor or public adjuster estimates for repairs, that's a red flag worth escalating, not something to accept quietly.
• You are not required to accept the first settlement offer. If you disagree with the scope, damages, or valuation, you can dispute it, request reinspection, invoke your policy's appraisal clause, or seek a second opinion before signing anything or cashing a check that says "final payment" or "full and final settlement."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long do I have to file a storm damage claim with Hartford in Florida? A: One year from the date of loss for a new claim, and 18 months for a supplemental claim covering additional damage discovered later from the same storm, under Florida Statute §627.70132. For hurricanes, the date of loss is the date the storm made landfall as verified by NOAA.

Q: What if Hartford denies my storm damage claim or offers a lowball settlement? A: You can request the adjuster's full estimate, dispute the scope of damage with your own documentation and contractor estimates, invoke the policy's appraisal provision if it has one, file a complaint with the Florida Department of Financial Services, or consult a property insurance attorney before accepting or signing anything final. A denial or underpayment is not automatically the end of the process.

Q: Should I let a contractor start repairs before Hartford's adjuster sees the damage? A: Only make repairs necessary to prevent further damage (tarping, boarding, water shutoff). Hold off on full repairs and don't discard damaged materials until the damage is documented and, ideally, the adjuster has inspected it, so there's no dispute later about what existed and how bad it was.

Q: Does my Hartford policy cover temporary living expenses if my home is uninhabitable after a storm? A: Most Hartford homeowners policies include Additional Living Expense (ALE) or Loss of Use coverage, which reimburses reasonable costs like hotel stays and extra food expenses while your home is being repaired. Confirm your specific coverage and limits, and keep every receipt to submit for reimbursement.

Q: Do I need a public adjuster or attorney to file a storm claim with Hartford? A: Not to file the claim itself — you can file directly with Hartford. But if the damage is significant, the claim is delayed past the statutory deadlines, or the settlement offer seems inconsistent with the actual damage, a public adjuster or property insurance attorney can help make sure the claim is valued and handled correctly.

Q: What's the difference between an "Act of God" clause and a named-storm or hurricane deductible? A: An Act of God provision generally establishes that the policy covers sudden, natural events like hurricanes and lightning, as opposed to gradual wear and tear. Separately, many Florida policies (including many Hartford policies) carry a specific hurricane or named-storm deductible, which is often a percentage of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat dollar amount and applies only when a storm is officially named or meets specific wind-speed criteria. Check your declarations page to see which deductible applies to your loss.

Talk to a Florida Attorney

If Hartford has delayed, underpaid, or denied your storm damage claim, you don't have to accept it or navigate Florida's strict deadlines alone. Louis Law Group represents Florida homeowners in property insurance disputes and can review your claim, your policy, and Hartford's response at no upfront cost to you. See if you qualify or call (833) 657-4812 to speak with our team today.