In general, your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy will pay for hurricane damage in Florida. Flooding may require a separate policy and filing an additional claim depending on how the water damage occurred. Hurricanes are among the most destructive types of natural disasters and they occur fairly regularly in our state. In addition to massive amounts of rain and flash flooding, there are also intense winds and a storm surge that can inundate inland areas. It is essential to understand your insurance coverage and any exclusions before a hurricane damages your property. So who pays for Florida hurricane damage if you do not have adequate coverage? You will get stuck with the bill.
You May Need to File More Than One Insurance Claim After a Florida Hurricane
Homeowner’s insurance coverage is the primary way to pay for hurricane damage to property you own in Florida. This type of coverage provides for damage from winds, falling trees, and hail. It also covers your fences, outbuildings, sheds, and other structures on the property, up to the policy limit. If you rent your home, your renter’s insurance will cover the contents of your home only. The property owner should have insurance to cover the structure.
Homeowner’s Insurance Pays for Wind Damage
Most homeowner’s insurance policies will cover wind damage to your home and other structures. However, there may be a separate hurricane deductible you must pay if the damage occurred because of a named storm. This deductible is generally a percentage of the value of your property and may be significantly higher than your normal deductible. Coverage limits are another serious concern. Your insurance company will not payout beyond the coverage limits outlined in your policy. If you need $300,000 to rebuild your home and have a $150,000 limit, you will need to find a way to pay the rest. If your policy limits are too low, you may want to supplement them with a hurricane- or windstorm-specific policy before bad weather arrives.
Separate Flood Insurance Policies May Be Necessary
Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from a flash flood or storm surge. If you are in a flood-prone zone, you should consider investing in a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program, sometimes called FEMA insurance. It is important to note, however, that your homeowner’s insurance policy will likely cover water damage that occurs because of damage to your roof or siding. Review your policy carefully to ensure this is the case.
Your Auto Insurer May Pay for Vehicle Damage
Your homeowner’s insurance generally will not pay out to cover the damage to a car, truck, van, or another vehicle. You will need to file a claim based on your comprehensive auto insurance coverage if you carry this type of policy.
Getting Your Payout for Florida Hurricane Damages Is Not Always Easy
At the Landau Law Group, we understand how frustrating and overwhelming it can be to try to recover the money you deserve after a Florida hurricane. Even though your insurance policy promises you have coverage for the hurricane damage to your home, it is not always easy to get the payout you deserve. Many clients who call us already face:
- Delays in appraising losses or offering payouts
- Lack of organization at the insurance company hindering the claims process
- Mistakes or misinformation from the insurer about what their policy covers
- Lowball repair estimates and appraisals
- Unfair and offensive settlement offers
Our team will review your policies and evaluate your options for free and handle filing your claims for you at no out-of-pocket cost to you. We do not get paid until we recover the insurance payout you deserve. We will do what it takes to secure a fair settlement offer or award on your behalf. Let us fight for the hurricane damage money you deserve based on your insurance policies. Call us today at 866-703-4878 to get started with your complimentary consultation with a member of our team.
Talk to a Florida Hurricane Insurance Lawyer About Your Concerns
At the Landau Law Group, we want to ensure you get the payout you deserve from your insurance company after a Florida hurricane. For many, navigating the insurance claims process is worse than weathering the storm itself. Our Florida hurricane damage claims lawyers can take this task on for you and your family, leaving you to focus on healing from any injuries and getting back to your everyday life. Call us today at 866-703-4878 for a free, no-obligation case review. You owe us nothing until we recover compensation on your behalf.
FAQs
Florida law - specifically F.S. 627.0629 - requires property insurance policies to include "hurricane coverage" for any wind damage caused by an officially-declared hurricane. Usually, this is not a separate policy, but rather comes standard in most homeowners' insurance policies.
How long does an insurance company have to settle a hurricane claim in Florida? ›
If your property was damaged by a hurricane in Florida and you submit a claim for damages to your insurance company, they must respond to your claim within 14 days and they must either deny, fully pay, or partially pay the claim within 90 days.
Do Morgan and Morgan handle hurricane Ian claims? ›
We can help to hold the insurance industry accountable so that you get properly compensated for Hurricane Ian's destruction.
Is hurricane insurance separate in Florida? ›
In Florida, hurricane insurance is a specialized component of your standard homeowner's policy. This specific coverage serves as a shield, safeguarding your property and personal belongings from the severe destruction a hurricane can cause.
Does homeowners insurance cover wind damage in Florida? ›
Windstorm insurance in Florida. Wind insurance in Florida is not a separate policy, even though it's a high-risk state. A standard homeowners, condo or renters insurance policy will cover windstorm damage. However, carriers might have a separate “named storm” deductible.
Does FEMA pay for hurricane damage? ›
If your home had storm-related damage and you are uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for help from FEMA to restore your homes to a livable condition. Federal assistance from FEMA provides only the basic needs for a home to be habitable—including toilets, a roof, critical utilities, windows and doors.
What is the average deductible for hurricane insurance in Florida? ›
Special Hurricane Deductibles
Insurers in Florida generally implement a special deductible for hurricane-related claims, which is different from deductibles for other types of claims. These deductibles are calculated as a percentage of the insured value of the dwelling, ranging from 2% to 5%.
Why do insurance companies deny hurricane claims? ›
Insurance companies deny claims for hurricane damage including storm, wind, or roof damage for a variety of reasons. Their logic behind the denial could include everything from an incorrectly filed claim to unpaid premiums, lack of evidence, gaps in your coverage, or if you don't take steps to prevent further damage.
What does an insurance adjuster do after a hurricane? ›
In this situation, insurance adjusters inspect and analyze to distinguish the different types of damage. Policies have different limits for different types of damage, which is why they need to distinguish the damage. Additionally, you may need to pay a deductible for each type of damage.
Can I still file a claim for Hurricane Ian in Florida? ›
When Did Hurricane Ian Make Landfall in Florida? Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28, 2022. It was strengthened to a Category 4 storm when it hit west of Fort Myers, Florida. Therefore, you have until September 28, 2023 to give notice of your claim to your insurance company.
The confusion lies with the fact that Hurricane Ian was considered a “qualified federal disaster” but the qualified disaster has not been listed as one of the ones eligible to take “qualified disaster losses” for those impacted.
How many insurance claims from Hurricane Ian? ›
With over 37,000 Hurricane Ian NFIP claims throughout Florida, and over 22,000 claims in Lee County alone, representative areas were selected based on a high percentage of NFIP policies in force and a large age-of-construction distribution, whenever possible.
What is the hurricane law in Florida? ›
Specifically, the new law states that all Florida homeowners associations, regardless of when they were first established, must adopt hurricane protection specifications for all of the structures and types of improvements located on a parcel within their community.
What is the highest deductible for homeowners insurance in Florida? ›
Homeowners insurance policies in Florida usually carry a deductible of either $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 or in the case of a hurricane, the deductible would likely be a percentage of the policy limit. The hurricane deductible is usually significantly higher than the “all other perils” deductible.
Is hurricane insurance worth it? ›
If you live in a hurricane-prone area, it's a good idea to get enough coverage to pay for completely rebuilding your home. Hurricanes can cause devastating damage, and a standard home insurance policy won't always cover all the damage.
Who pays for property damage in Florida? ›
Under Florida car insurance requirements, drivers must have at least $10,000 of property damage liability coverage. Generally speaking, your property damage costs will be paid by your insurance company.
How much is FEMA paying for Florida hurricane? ›
To date, federal support following Hurricane Ian for Florida totals $8.69 billion: FEMA provided $1.13 billion in grants to more than 386,000 households in 26 counties. The U.S. Small Business Administration approved $1.94 billion in disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.
Does FEMA give money to hurricane victims? ›
FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs.
Who pays to rebuild Florida after hurricane? ›
Rebuild Florida is a partnership of FloridaCommerce and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which approved funding to local communities for Florida's long-term recovery efforts after Hurricane Ian.
