In Florida, this lack of awareness is especially apparent in the ongoing debate over FEMA’s 50% Rule — a crucial regulation for post-disaster rebuilding that has recently taken center stage in the media. Despite its long-standing significance in guiding recovery after major flood disasters, public awareness remains surprisingly low. What’s even more troubling is the persistent spread of misinformation, often repeated by community leaders, so-called experts, and local building officials. These inaccuracies, amplified by media coverage, lead to widespread misunderstanding, with many mistakenly assuming the rule applies uniformly across all communities. This confusion creates significant challenges for agencies and experts striving to provide clear guidance during critical times.
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Not surprising are the calls we get from property owners living in condos, who are looking for help following property damage to their building that affected their unit. This often takes the form of damage to the unit owner’s property which often includes their personal property, i.e., contents, as well as items such as carpet, other types of floor covering, trim items such as door frames, baseboards, cabinets, and the list goes on depending on the type and severity of the damage and the wording in their condominium documents. When a covered casualty event occurs, whether it’s water, fire, the dreaded “mold” word or some other peril, the finger pointing starts and the unit owner is caught in the middle.
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Many people might be surprised that having an adjuster look at your damage after a storm like Hurricane Milton is only the beginning of the insurance claim process. The field adjuster that inspected your property may not be an employee of the insurance company. They are typically independent adjusters on contract and typically are paid a set fee or percentage for each claim they handle. This is especially true during disaster situations when there are so many claims to adjust, there is a shortage of qualified adjusters, and they are hard pressed to get to as many claims as possible. Ask what firm they are with when they come to inspect your property and note how thorough they are recording your damage and if they are “listening” to you.
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Florida homeowners with severe damage from Hurricane Milton to the extent that their residence is uninhabitable, may have an insurance policy that provides a coverage called “Additional Living Expense” or “A.L.E.” if it is a covered loss. Under the Additional Living Expense coverage, you and your family may be entitled to rent another home of the same size, like kind and quality as well as be reimbursed for any extra expenses you incur such as food and temporary lodging.

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I want to thank NBC reporter, Rob Wile for allowing me to contribute to his news piece: Insurance 'nightmare' unfolds for Florida homeowners after back-to-back hurricanes (nbcnews.com)   It brings to light something we’ve been blogging about for some time. Policyholders have been put in a precarious position at the worst time when it comes to putting their lives back together and upholding their insurance coverage.

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Due to the widespread and extensive wind damage caused by Hurricane Milton, insurance company adjusters and many inexperienced contractors, in their rush to assess claims, may eyeball roof damage and recommend partial repairs based on simple visual inspection. And I don’t want to even address those trying to inspect roofs with drones. This is going to cause terrible problems in the future as flying debris can damage the membrane of roofs and set people up for severe water damage in the future. Adjusters simply don’t spend enough time assessing policyholders damage or consider the increased cost of materials and repairs given the state of conditions. 

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Harsher policy terms mean damages might not be covered Honored to have been asked to contribute to this article.

Jean Eaglesham is a topnotch reporter and very knowledgeable at all levels of the insurance industry. I suggest you follow her on the WSJ.

https://www.wsj.com/finance/homeowners-hit-by-helene-are-in-for-an-insurance-claim-shock-60ae5519?st=fpHroy&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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As recovery efforts continue in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Milton has now formed and is projected to bring heavy rainfall and potential flooding to parts of Florida in the coming days. We’ve already received calls from clients in Jacksonville, and we anticipate more to come. Many of my neighbors here on the coast of Clearwater, still dealing with Helene's aftermath, are planning to evacuate as early as Monday in preparation for Milton’s potential impact.
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It was a humbling experience meeting with Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis today at the 'Insurance Village' in Clearwater, established for Bay Area residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. As Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Patronis was on-site offering much-needed reassurance to homeowners who lost everything, providing guidance, and outlining steps for relief. During our conversation, we addressed key issues policyholders were facing. I shared some of the common concerns I’ve been hearing, highlighting how a licensed public adjuster can make a real difference in navigating the claims process.
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Since Hurricane Helene impacted Florida’s Gulf Coast, our public adjusters have been besieged with questions about flood claims. Therefore, I thought it would be helpful and hopefully educational to explain the distinction between a flood event and a water loss since these terms are often misused by policyholders filing a claim. In addition, for those who do have flood insurance, we want to share some knowledge and information in the form of tips from my firm’s extensive experience with these losses. While it is human nature to want to quickly repair and restore your property, please make sure you are taking the proper steps to comply and meet the requirements as a policyholder. Furthermore, take a moment to carefully review the NFIP flood claim guidelines, as they have undergone numerous updates.

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