Hurricane Season 2025 is officially here. For us in Florida, the "above-average" forecasts from CSU and NOAA come as no surprise. The real relentless force, however, is the non-stop media coverage. While warnings are crucial as we hit June 1st, the constant hype often feels like overkill. Many neighbors, still recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, tell me this media frenzy is overwhelming, even re-triggering symptoms of PTSD. To those individuals, we see you, we hear you, and we understand your struggle all too well.
 

This blog aims to be both informative and concise, offering a few ‘uncensored’ realities and tips. Three recent stories caught my attention, each a powerful reminder of the human side of this hurricane season. To the insurance companies out there: empathy needs to be more than a buzzword in your playbook this year. After all, we’re all in this together… right?

Story #1: Even Insiders Get the Runaround

A recent Fox 13 News Tampa Bay segment (May 14, 2025) hit home. It featured a woman with over 20 years of insurance industry experience – someone who helped others navigate claims. Ironically, and tragically, she's now a policyholder victim herself. Her home suffered flood and fire damage during Hurricane Helene, and despite her insider knowledge, her insurer gave her the same runaround countless policyholders endure: delays, adjuster "switch-a-roos," and low-ball settlement offers. While the segment was vague on whether her final settlement check arrived, it made one thing crystal clear: filing a formal complaint with the State of Florida finally got her insurer's attention.

The takeaway here is stark: If industry professionals can't even get a fair shake, what hope is there for the average policyholder? Unless, of course, the endgame is for everyone to flood the State with complaints – which, ironically, was the very advice Florida once gave, until their phone lines stopped working.

Our Tip: If you're facing similar struggles, give it a try: https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/needourhelp

Story #2: PBS and the Realities of Disaster Recovery

You might have heard whispers about politics impacting PBS funding. Let me be clear: this isn't a political statement, but the reality is, politics have long intertwined with natural disasters and recovery efforts. While President Trump has been critical of Florida insurance companies, understand this: insurance companies are largely unaffected by political rhetoric. They didn't magically start paying claims during the pandemic due to political pressure, and nothing is different today.

So, if you're holding out for some miracle or windfall for your claim (especially flood claims!), pay attention to what you can control. PBS has been superb in its disaster reporting for years, offering invaluable insights. They have ongoing series featuring credentialed experts with helpful advice for business owners, homeowners, and even tips for those without insurance seeking state grants.

Our Tip: Tune into reputable sources like PBS and others for actionable recovery advice. Your proactive steps are your best defense, not political whims.

#3 The Shortening Fuse: Claims and Supplements

One critical topic that isn't getting nearly enough attention is the shrinking window to navigate the insurance claims process. This is a profound issue—often misunderstood—and when insurers fail to communicate it clearly, the result is widespread confusion, delayed responses, and unjust claim denials. We're seeing this play out right now, with Hurricane Ian policyholders still fighting for fair settlements.

Back in late 2022, following Hurricane Ian, I appeared on local news to share insights into the legislature's push to shorten claim reporting deadlines. Those proposals ultimately became law.

Here’s a critical breakdown of current deadlines you must know:

• Hurricane Ian (Landfall: 09/28/2022): Deadline to supplement claims is September 28, 2025.
• Policies issued after 12/16/2022: You now have only 18 months from the date of loss to report or supplement claims.
• Hurricane Idalia (Landfall: 08/30/2023): The deadline passed on February 28, 2025.
• Hurricane Debby (Landfall: 08/05/2024): The deadline is February 5, 2026.
• Hurricane Helene (Landfall: 09/26/2024): The deadline is March 26, 2026.
• Hurricane Milton (Landfall: 10/09/2024): The deadline is April 9, 2026.

Important: Flood claims follow separate federal guidelines and are often even more time-sensitive. Be sure to check official guidance and relevant bulletins.

Your Tip: Mark your calendars! Understand these critical deadlines and act accordingly – there's no room for delay.

Final Tip: Get a Certified, True Copy of Your Policy

One of the smartest things you can do right now is request a Certified and True Copy of your entire insurance policy—including all forms and endorsements specific to your coverage. Do not assume that the packet your insurer mailed you is complete.

Here's why this matters:

• Verify Policy Period Dates: Double-check to ensure you weren’t accidentally sent last year’s version.
• Confirm Endorsements: Compare your Declarations page to the actual policy to confirm that every listed endorsement is physically included. We’ve seen critical documents—like roof exclusions—missing entirely from so-called “complete” policy copies.

If something doesn’t look right, or if you don’t fully understand what you’re reading, call your agent immediately. As the old saying goes: “The big print giveth, and the small print taketh away.” Don't let a missing page be your undoing.

Above all, take care of yourself and those around you. Preparedness is power but so is being an informed policyholder. If you have questions regarding any property insurance claim related issues you can text us via our public adjuster website or contact us to submit a question to one of our public adjuster insurance claim experts.