After a hurricane, the homeowners who recover fastest are almost always the ones who documented well and early. The ones who struggle usually made a reasonable-seeming mistake in the first two days — repairs before photos, a signed contract handed to the first crew that knocked, or a delayed report.
This is the sequence to follow.
Key takeaways
- Prevent further damage and keep the receipts — that's a policy duty, and it's reimbursable.
- Photograph everything before cleanup; keep damaged items until inspected.
- Report quickly; Florida hurricane claim deadlines are strict.
- Know your hurricane deductible and whether your roof is ACV before judging an offer.
1. Safety, then stop the damage from spreading
Before anything else: watch for downed lines, standing water near electrical, and compromised structure. Don't enter a damaged area to take photos if it isn't safe.
Once it is safe, you have a duty under the policy to prevent further damage — tarp the roof, board an opening, move contents out of a wet room. Keep every receipt for those temporary measures; they're generally reimbursable.
2. Document before you clean up
Photograph and video everything before moving or discarding anything: exterior from all four sides, roof from ground level, each damaged room, damaged contents individually, and any water lines on walls.
Keep damaged items if you safely can, at least until the adjuster has seen them. A photo of a ruined sofa is weaker evidence than the sofa.
3. Report the claim promptly
Call your carrier's claim line or your agent as soon as you're able. Florida has statutory deadlines for reporting hurricane claims, and they're shorter than most people assume — waiting to see how bad it is elsewhere in the neighborhood is not a strategy.
Write down the claim number, the adjuster's name, and the date and substance of every conversation. A running claim log is genuinely useful if the file changes hands.
4. Be careful who you sign with
After every Florida storm, crews arrive quickly offering immediate repairs in exchange for a signature. Read anything before signing, and don't sign over your claim benefits or authorize work at unspecified prices.
Reputable contractors will give you a written scope and price and will not need a signature today.
5. Work the adjuster visit
Be present if you can. Walk the property with the adjuster, point out everything — including damage that isn't obvious, like soft spots in a ceiling or water intrusion behind a wall.
Give them your photo set and your inventory of damaged contents with rough ages and values. Ask what's included in their scope and request a copy of the estimate.
6. Understand your deductible and settlement basis
Your hurricane deductible — a percentage of dwelling coverage — comes off the claim before payment. And if your roof is on an actual cash value schedule, depreciation comes off too, with recoverable depreciation typically released after repairs are completed and documented.
Know both numbers before you evaluate a settlement offer, and keep every repair invoice so recoverable depreciation actually gets recovered.
7. If you disagree with the outcome
You can request the adjuster's full estimate, ask for a re-inspection, provide your own contractor's estimate, and escalate within the carrier. Florida also has a Department of Financial Services consumer helpline and mediation programs for residential property claims.
Your agent should be helping you here — we can't decide the claim, but we can push, translate and escalate.
Review your home coverage
The best time to check your deductible and settlement basis is before a storm.
Frequently asked questions
This guide is general information for Florida consumers, not a policy or legal advice. Coverage terms vary by carrier and policy form — your declarations page controls. Last reviewed July 26, 2026.