As recovery efforts begin after Hurricane Helene, many Floridians are facing the challenge of navigating property damage claims. This is a critical moment, especially given the lessons learned from Hurricane Ian just two years ago. While the focus is understandably on the present, 60 Minutes will be airing a segment tonight titled After the Hurricane, reflecting on Ian’s aftermath and the road to recovery—an important reminder as we move forward after Helene.
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Hurricane Helene will produce all kinds of flood claim issues and conflicts with wind related water damage. We believe National Flood will waive the Proof of Loss deadline requirement so look for an extension to the time frame. We’ve revived a very popular blog on understanding flood where our talented staff of public adjusters shared some of the best tips they could think of for handling a flood claim. The following are some tips that hopefully will help folks should they have flood coverage.
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Power outages will be an unavoidable reality for policyholders who are impacted by Hurricane Helene. While some outages last only a few minutes, others can stretch on for days, causing considerable inconvenience and financial loss. From spoiled food in the refrigerator to potential business losses, the aftermath can be burdensome. This brings up an essential question: Does your insurance policy cover losses stemming from a power outage?
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Storm surge and wind from Hurricane Helene has created significant damage along the Gulf Coast. Experiencing  wind damage or flood in your home or business can be distressing, and the aftermath can often be overwhelming. One of the critical steps post-storm is to document the damage for insurance claims accurately. Proper documentation not only helps in maximizing your claim benefits but also ensures a smoother claims process. Here are the best tips to help you document and prepare an insurance claim effectively.
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Hurricane Helene is a fast moving large storm system that will impact a large geographic area. You pay good money to insure your property, while hoping never to have to file a claim. But when disaster does strike, you expect your insurance company to have your back. In a perfect world, your insurance carrier will send out their field adjuster following your notification of a loss. The adjuster will thoroughly inspect and properly value your damage. A check to help you rebuild will be forthcoming in a reasonable amount of time. Unfortunately, in our 40 years of practicing public adjusting, we often see too many cases where this is not the case.
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Hurricane Ian – Two Years Later: Time is Running Out for Victims to File Claims

As Hurricane Helene approaches, we hope your family stays safe and that your property remains undamaged. Even if Helene doesn’t make landfall in your area, regions outside the forecast cone could still experience strong winds, embedded tornados, heavy rain, and storm surge. It’s important to secure your property and stay tuned to local advisories.However, while Helene grabs attention, Floridians affected by Hurricane Ian face another urgent concern—time is running out to file or reopen claims for damages from this devastating storm.

Final Call: Hurricane Ian Claims Deadline Approaching

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm on September 28, 2022. As we mark the two-year anniversary, it’s crucial for policyholders to remember that the deadline to file or reopen claims related to Ian is rapidly approaching. The final day to submit a Hurricane Ian claim is September 28, 2024. After this date, no new or reopened claims can be filed, meaning you may lose your right to recover compensation for property damages caused by Ian.

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As a follow-up to our insurance claim tips blog post yesterday, some of the calls and reports we are receiving in the aftermath of Hurricane Debby are quite alarming. Residents of the Lakewood Ranch community are reporting extensive flood damage to homes and cars, along with critical care needs due to heart attacks, electrocutions, and other emergencies that have tragically resulted in loss of life. Property owners are stuck in their homes, waiting for the waters to recede, and many are concerned about their coverage since these inland communities, which haven't experienced flooding in over 30 years, are not near the coast. While automobiles will likely be covered, expensive damages to homes may result in numerous liability claims against developers and possibly municipalities. This is an ongoing critical situation, and we are working to assist those calling in need of help.

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It is extremely important to have records of your property’s condition in the event that you need to file a claim with your insurance company. Based on current assessments, Hurricane Debby is expected to cause significant losses from Ft. Myers in Southwest Florida, Sarasota to Clearwater St. Petersburg, and especially into Tampa Bay. Right now, flash flooding continues, storm surge coinciding with onshore winds, a full moon, and high tides may produce some surprises. Property owners should prepare for the worst. Additionally, embedded tornadoes and significant wind gusts are always a risk, causing roof and interior water damage that may initially appear as roof leaks.

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It already appears 2024 will be a very active hurricane season. It’s still not to late to secure your property, make needed repairs, take photos of personal property and pre-loss property conditions. If you do experience a loss here’s 3 things you can do to make your insurance claim, go smoother.
1. Report your claim to your insurer in a timely manner. 
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Our firm was happy to contribute to the June Florida Community Association Journal Hurricane Preparedness issue. Below is our article plus here’s a link to many more expert articles on disaster prep.
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