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What to Do After a Hurricane in Florida: A Claim Documentation Checklist

LEGAL ACCURACY LAST VERIFIED / October 10, 2026

The hours and days after a hurricane are when most insurance claims are won or lost, long before anyone argues about a number. Owners who stay safe, document the damage before cleanup, keep wind and water separate, stop further damage, and give notice in writing put themselves in a far stronger position than owners who start tearing out drywall the first morning. Here is the checklist I would want every Florida property owner and manager to follow.

Short answer

The short version: safety, photos, mitigation, notice, and no surprise signatures

  1. 01Stay out of damaged buildings until officials or a qualified professional say they are safe.
  2. 02Photograph and video everything before it is moved or removed: outside, roof, then room by room.
  3. 03Document wind damage and water damage separately, with water lines measured and photographed.
  4. 04Stop further damage: tarp, board up, extract water, and dry. Keep every receipt.
  5. 05Keep damaged materials, or samples and photos of them, until the insurer has inspected.
  6. 06Report the claim in writing to every carrier that may owe part of it, and write down the claim numbers.
  7. 07Do not sign anything you do not understand: releases, proofs of loss, or contractor paperwork.

1. Safety before anything else

No claim is worth an injury. Do not enter a building with visible structural damage, standing water near electrical equipment, or a gas smell. Watch for downed lines, weakened floors and stairs, and damaged balconies. Generators belong outdoors, away from windows and doors, because of carbon monoxide. If your county has issued a curfew or restricted access, follow it.

2. Photos and video, room by room and the roof

Before cleanup starts, walk the property with your phone. Narrate the video with the date, the address, and what you are seeing. Then take still photos in a consistent order so nothing gets missed.

  • Exterior: every side of every building from a distance, then close-ups of damage to roofing, siding, stucco, windows, doors, soffits, fences, signs, and rooftop or ground-level equipment.
  • Roof: only from the ground, a ladder at the edge, or a drone unless it is safe to walk. Photograph missing shingles or tiles, lifted membrane, damaged flashing, and debris.
  • Interior: each room wide from the doorway, then ceilings, walls, floors, and contents. Open cabinets and closets.
  • Equipment: model and serial plates on HVAC units, water heaters, elevators, pumps, and electrical gear.
  • Contents: photograph damaged items before you move them, and start a list with approximate age and cost.

3. Document wind and water separately

Wind damage and flood damage are insured by different policies in Florida. Wind, and rain that came in through an opening the wind created, generally goes to the property or windstorm policy. Storm surge and rising water are flood, and flood is excluded from property policies. When a building has both, each carrier pays only for its own peril, so the evidence has to separate them.

Photograph every wind opening, such as a lifted roof section, a broken window, or a failed door, and the interior damage below it. Photograph water lines on walls, columns, and fences with a tape measure in the frame. Damage well above the water line, especially wet ceilings on upper floors, points to wind. Sand and debris inside the ground floor point to water. Our guide to wind versus flood damage covers how causation is proven.

4. Mitigate, and keep the receipts

Most property policies require reasonable steps to protect the property from further damage, and the reasonable cost of those steps is generally part of the claim. Tarp the roof, board openings, extract water, and start drying with fans and dehumidifiers or a professional mitigation company. Get written invoices that describe the work, and keep moisture readings and drying logs if a mitigation company provides them.

Mitigation is not repair. Hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer has had a reasonable chance to inspect, unless waiting would cause more damage or create a safety hazard. If you must repair first, document the before condition thoroughly.

5. Keep damaged materials

Do not throw away the evidence. Keep samples of damaged roofing, flooring, drywall, and cabinets, or at least photograph them clearly with a scale reference before disposal. Health and safety come first, so wet materials that are breeding mold can go, but photograph them and note where they came from before they leave.

6. Give notice to the insurer, in writing

Report the claim to every carrier that may owe part of the loss: the property or homeowners policy, a separate wind policy, the flood policy, and business income coverage. Use the carrier's portal, email, or letter so there is a written record, and note the claim number and adjuster's name and license number.

Under Fla. Stat. 627.70132, notice of a new property claim generally must be given within 1 year after the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. For a hurricane, the date of loss is the date it made landfall. Do not wait anywhere near that long. The NFIP flood policy requires a signed and sworn proof of loss within 60 days of the loss unless FEMA extends it in writing. Once notified, Florida law generally requires the insurer to acknowledge within 7 days and to pay or deny within 60 days.

7. Never sign what you do not understand

After a storm, paperwork arrives from every direction. A release can end the claim. A proof of loss is a sworn statement. A contractor's work authorization may commit you to a price or a direction-to-pay arrangement. For policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, Florida law bars assignment of post-loss benefits under residential and commercial property policies, so be wary of anyone asking you to sign over your claim. Read every document, ask questions, and keep copies.

8. Know your rights at the inspection

On residential and condominium unit owner policies, Fla. Stat. 626.854(14) requires anyone acting for the insurer to give at least 48 hours' notice to the insured and the public adjuster or legal representative before scheduling an inspection or meeting. You can deny access if that notice was not given, or waive it. Whatever the policy type, be present for the inspection or have your representative there, walk the adjuster through every area you documented, and take your own photos of what they look at.

9. FEMA and other assistance

If a federal disaster declaration covers your county, you can apply for FEMA assistance at disasterassistance.gov. Eligibility depends on the declaration, the type of assistance approved for your county, and your circumstances, and FEMA assistance generally does not duplicate what insurance pays. Register even while the insurance claim is open, and keep your insurance claim number handy. Businesses should also check sba.gov/disaster for disaster loan programs.

10. Mold

In Florida heat, mold can start growing within a day or two of water exposure. Fast drying is the best defense. Many property policies sharply limit mold coverage, often with a sublimit, but mold that results from a covered loss and is addressed promptly is treated differently from mold that grew because the owner waited. Document moisture readings and drying, and report mold as soon as you see it.

11. Watch for scams

  • Verify any contractor's license with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation before signing, and be cautious of large upfront payments.
  • Verify any public adjuster's license with the Florida Department of Financial Services.
  • Be wary of anyone who knocks on your door on a Sunday or outside 8 AM to 8 PM offering adjusting services. Florida law limits public adjuster solicitation to Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM.
  • Do not give personal or bank information to anyone claiming to be from FEMA or your insurer without confirming who they are through official channels.

Commonly Asked Questions

What should I do first after a hurricane?

Make sure everyone is safe and stay out of damaged buildings until they are cleared. Then photograph and video all damage before anything is moved, take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and report the claim to your insurer in writing.

How do I document hurricane damage for insurance?

Narrate a video walkthrough, then take photos in order: every side of the building, the roof, each room wide and close, equipment serial plates, and damaged contents. Photograph water lines with a tape measure in the frame and keep wind damage and water damage in separate sets.

Can I start repairs before the adjuster comes?

You can and generally should take emergency steps to prevent further damage, such as tarping, boarding, and drying, and keep the receipts. Hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer has had a reasonable chance to inspect, unless waiting would cause more damage or a safety risk.

How long do I have to report hurricane damage in Florida?

Under Fla. Stat. 627.70132, notice of a new property claim generally must be given within 1 year after the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. For a hurricane, the date of loss is the landfall date. Flood policies have their own rules, including the NFIP's 60-day proof of loss.

Does the insurance adjuster have to give notice before inspecting?

On residential and condominium unit owner policies, Fla. Stat. 626.854(14) requires at least 48 hours' notice to the insured and the public adjuster or legal representative before an inspection or meeting is scheduled. You may waive it or deny access if notice was not given.

Should I throw away damaged items?

Not until they are documented. Keep samples or clear photos with a scale reference, and keep larger items until the insurer has inspected if it is safe to do so. Wet materials that create a health hazard can be removed after you photograph them.

Should I register with FEMA if I have insurance?

If your county is included in a federal disaster declaration, you can register at disasterassistance.gov. FEMA generally does not pay for losses insurance covers, but it may help with uninsured or underinsured needs depending on the declaration and your situation.

Is mold covered after a hurricane?

It depends on the policy. Many Florida policies limit mold coverage with a sublimit, and prompt drying and reporting matter. Mold that follows a covered loss and is addressed quickly is treated differently from mold that grew because of delay.

About the Author

James Coyne

Florida Licensed Public Adjuster, License W482618. Founder of Coyne Commercial Group, Firm License G350978, Sanford, Florida. Represents commercial property owners, condominium and HOA associations, and homeowners on insurance claims statewide.

Sources

This page is for general information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. Confirm any deadline or obligation against your policy, your association’s governing documents, and current Florida law.

THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR BUSINESS. IF YOU HAVE HAD A CLAIM FOR AN INSURED PROPERTY LOSS OR DAMAGE AND YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH THE PAYMENT BY YOUR INSURER, YOU MAY DISREGARD THIS ADVERTISEMENT.

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