Hurricane Isaias may be long gone, but for property owners who sustained damage, the storm’s departure is only the beginning. What homeowners and business owners do in the days and weeks following a hurricane can significantly affect their ability to recover insurance benefits.
From documenting wind and water damage to protecting the property against further loss, every step matters. Just as importantly, policyholders must understand that insurance policies impose certain post-loss obligations and that state law establishes deadlines for reporting new and supplemental hurricane claims.
The bottom line: The storm may be over, but the claim record begins with what you document, preserve, and communicate to your insurance company.
Filing an insurance claim in Florida can be cumbersome, but following a structured process increases your chances of receiving fair compensation.
- Document the Damage Before the Evidence Disappears
Following a hurricane, property owners understandably want to begin cleaning up and returning their homes or businesses to normal. However, moving too quickly without documenting the damage can create problems when the insurance company begins investigating the claim.
Before cleaning up and making repairs, whether permanent or temporary, thoroughly photograph and video the property’s condition, provided it is safe to do so. Photographs should capture both wide views showing the location of the damage and close-up views showing its nature and extent. Preserve the original photographs and videos whenever possible, including their dates and metadata.
Hurricane-force winds and wind-driven rain can affect roofing systems, building envelopes, and interior materials in ways that may not become apparent until later. Do not assume that damage is insignificant simply because it is not immediately visible.
- Mitigate Further Damage, but Preserve the Evidence
Most property insurance policies require policyholders to take reasonable steps to protect insured property from additional damage after a loss. However, protecting the property and preserving evidence are not mutually exclusive.
Depending on the circumstances, protecting and preserving may include installing temporary roof coverings, boarding up broken windows, removing standing water, drying affected areas, or arranging emergency mitigation services, all while photographing conditions and location BEFORE damaged materials are removed or discarded.
Yes, pictures are worth a thousand words!
Additionally, keep copies of all mitigation-related documentation, including contractor agreements, invoices, receipts, photographs, moisture readings, drying logs, and communications with restoration companies.
Policyholders should also distinguish between emergency work necessary to prevent further damage and permanent repairs that may alter or eliminate evidence of the original loss. When extensive repairs are necessary, consider providing the insurer with a reasonable opportunity to inspect before the work proceeds, unless waiting would create additional damage or unsafe conditions.
Remember: Reasonable mitigation protects the property, while careful documentation protects the claim.
- Give Notice to Your Insurance Company
One of the most important steps following a hurricane is notifying the insurance company that a loss has occurred.
Most property insurance policies require prompt notice or timely notice of a loss. Although the precise language varies, policyholders should not assume they can wait until they know the full extent of the damage before reporting a claim. An initial claim can be reported even when the complete repair scope and cost remain unknown.
When providing notice, identify the date of loss, describe the damage discovered, and request a claim number and written confirmation that the claim has been opened.
Maintain a record of all communications with the insurance company, including the names of adjusters, inspection dates, requests for information, and any representations regarding coverage or payment.
Florida law requires insurance companies to acknowledge your claim within fourteen (14) days and accept/deny your claim within ninety (90) days, provided all necessary documentation is submitted. Monitor these timeframes to ensure your claim remains on track.
If the insurance company requests documents, a sworn proof of loss, or an examination under oath, review the policy’s requirements carefully and respond appropriately.
- Understand the Difference Between a New Claim, Reopened Claim, and Supplemental Claim
Under Florida Statute § 627.70132, policyholders must understand the difference between a new claim, a reopened claim, and a supplemental claim. Although these claims may arise from the same loss, the distinction matters because Florida law imposes different deadlines depending on the type of claim being submitted.
Florida Statute § 627.70132 states, in part:
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Reopened claim” means a claim that an insurer has previously closed, but that has been reopened upon an insured’s request for additional costs for loss or damage previously disclosed to the insurer.
(b) “Supplemental claim” means a claim for additional loss or damage from the same peril which the insurer has previously adjusted or for which costs have been incurred while completing repairs or replacement pursuant to an open claim for which timely notice was previously provided to the insurer.
(2) A claim or reopened claim, but not a supplemental claim, under an insurance policy that provides property insurance, as defined in s. 624.604, including a property insurance policy issued by an eligible surplus lines insurer, for loss or damage caused by any peril is barred unless notice of the claim was given to the insurer in accordance with the terms of the policy within 1 year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim is barred unless notice of the supplemental claim was given to the insurer in accordance with the terms of the policy within 18 months after the date of loss. The time limitations of this subsection are tolled during any term of deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting which materially affects the ability of a named insured who is a servicemember as defined in s. 250.01 to file a claim, supplemental claim, or reopened claim.
A new claim generally involves the initial report of property damage to your insurance company. For example, if a hurricane damages your roof and causes water to enter your home, notifying your insurer of that damage for the first time constitutes a new claim. Under the statute, notice of a new claim must generally be provided within one year of the date of loss, regardless of whether the full extent of the damage has been determined.
A reopened claim generally involves a claim that was initially reported, the insurance company closed, but that the policyholder asks to reopen to recover additional costs for damage already disclosed to the insurer. For example, if your insurer closed your hurricane claim after paying for roof repairs, but you later determine that the repairs will cost more than originally estimated, you may request that the claim be reopened. Importantly, a reopened claim is subject to the same one-year notice deadline as a new claim under Florida Statute § 627.70132. 1
A supplemental claim generally involves seeking additional payment for loss or damage caused by the same storm that the insurer previously adjusted, or for qualifying additional costs incurred during repairs or replacement under a claim that was timely reported. For example, after your insurer adjusts your roof damage, a contractor may discover additional storm-related damage to the underlying roof decking that was not included in the original estimate. That additional damage may support a supplemental claim. Under § 627.70132, notice of a supplemental claim must generally be provided within 18 months of the date of loss.
The critical distinction is that the discovery of additional damage does not automatically restart the statutory claim reporting deadline.
- Keep a Complete Claim File
A successful insurance claim often depends on the quality of the supporting documentation. Property owners should maintain an organized file containing the insurance policy, declarations, photographs, estimates, inspection reports, mitigation invoices, repair contracts, payment records, and all written communications with the insurance company.
When speaking with an insurance adjuster, make a brief contemporaneous note identifying the date, participants, and substance of the discussion. Consider accompanying the insurance adjuster during inspections to point out all damages. If you suspect underestimations, consider obtaining independent assessments from a qualified expert, including an insurance public adjuster.
For commercial property owners, contemporaneous financial records may also be essential to documenting business interruption or extra expense claims, where such coverage applies.
The goal is to establish a clear and consistent record of what happened, when the damage was discovered, what was done to protect the property, how much damage there is (whether it is loss to the building or dwelling, personal property loss, loss of use, fair rental value loss, business interruption, etc.), and how the insurance company responded.
If your insurance company issues a coverage determination or payment that does not account for all observed damage, request an explanation and identify the specific items in dispute. Insurers may release partial payments for immediate repairs. Hold onto these funds for their intended purpose to avoid complications with claims. Policyholders should not assume that accepting an undisputed payment prevents them from seeking additional benefits, however, settlement agreements and releases must be carefully reviewed and considered before signing anything!
- Do Not Overlook Hidden or Disputed Damage
Insurance company inspections do not always identify every component of hurricane-related damage. Notably, wind-driven rain may enter through storm created openings, and damage to roof assemblies, windows, doors, and other building components may require specialized evaluation. Insurers may attribute some conditions to wear and tear, deterioration, faulty maintenance, or preexisting damage rather than the hurricane.
Those distinctions matter because property insurance policies contain specific coverage provisions, exclusions, limitations, and exceptions that must be evaluated against the facts of the loss and the preexisting condition of the property.
A denial based on wear and tear, for example, does not necessarily resolve whether a separate covered cause of loss contributed to the damage. Similarly, the presence of preexisting conditions does not automatically eliminate coverage for new, storm-related damage.
Policyholders should review coverage determinations carefully rather than assume an insurer’s initial conclusions are final.
- Know the Deadlines Hurricane Isaias Claims Present
Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Florida on or around October 9, 2026. For Florida policyholders, that date is particularly important because of the statutory deadlines imposed by Fla. Stat § 627.70132.
Accordingly, a property owner with a 2026 Isaias claim should immediately calendar these deadlines TODAY:
- Initial Claim for Hurricane Isaias claim(s) with an October 9, 2026 date of loss –> Deadline is Saturday, October 9, 2027
- Supplemental Claim for Hurricane Isaias claim(s) with an October 9, 2026 date of loss –> Deadline is Sunday, April 9, 2028
For lawsuits for Breach of Contract for Hurricane Isaias claim(s) with an October 9, 2026 date of loss, you have 5 years from the date of loss to file a lawsuit if the insurance company delays or underpays your claim –> Deadline is Thursday, October 9, 2031.
Failing to file your initial claim on time could forfeit your right to any reimbursement for hurricane damage, so act promptly.
Note that your claim specific applicable deadlines may depend on your date of loss, insurance policy, and governing statutory provisions. The practical takeaway: Never assume that an insurance claim remains timely, or that it is necessarily barred, without reviewing the specific facts and law governing your loss.
The Storm Is Over. Your Claim Record Still Matters.
Hurricane Isaias serves as an important reminder that recovering from a storm involves more than repairing physical damage. Hurricanes disrupt lives and businesses and cause significant financial loss. Knowing how to file hurricane insurance claims correctly can make all the difference.
Stay informed, act promptly, and ensure you’re prepared to protect your most valuable asset. Understand your insurance policy, document the loss, preserve the evidence, meet your post-loss obligations, and do not forget the deadlines that govern your claim.
1 Whether a subsequent submission is actually considered a “reopened claim” depends on the claim’s status, the nature of the additional costs, and what was previously reported to the insurer.
