Florida is one of the most hurricane-prone states in the country, and Tampa Bay sits in a historically vulnerable position. When a hurricane, tropical storm, or severe windstorm damages your home or business, you expect your insurance policy to respond. Too often, it doesn’t — or not fully.
A windstorm — whether a tropical storm, hurricane, or tornado — can damage both the exterior and interior of your property. Wind can tear into a roof system directly, or send trees and windblown debris into your structure, opening the door to severe interior water intrusion. That water damage commonly shows up in ceilings, walls, cabinets, and floors — and in your belongings, from furniture and clothing to electronics and other personal property.
Time matters. Quickly assessing and mitigating the damage — and promptly notifying your insurer — can make or break your claim. We regularly see valid claims denied simply because the loss wasn’t reported to the insurance company quickly enough.
Common Tactics Insurers Use to Deny Windstorm Claims
- “Wear and tear,” not wind damage. Insurers often claim an older roof’s damage was pre-existing deterioration rather than storm-related. But an older roof that wasn’t leaking before the loss is entitled to the same coverage as a new one — age alone isn’t a valid reason to deny a claim.
- No proven “opening.” Insurers frequently argue the wind event didn’t create an actual opening in the roof or wall through which water entered — disputing causation to avoid paying the claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane damage?
Most Florida homeowners policies cover wind damage from a hurricane or tropical storm, subject to a hurricane deductible. Storm surge and flood are treated differently (see the next question). Wind can also tear open a roof or wall and let rain in, which can cause serious interior damage. See our hurricane and storm damage page.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage caused by a hurricane?
Standard homeowners insurance generally does not cover flood damage, including storm surge, even when the flooding is caused by a hurricane. Flood coverage is typically provided through separate flood insurance.
Damage caused by wind or rain entering through a storm-created opening is a different coverage question and depends on the cause of the damage and the language of your policy. Review your policy before assuming that hurricane-related water damage is excluded.
How does a hurricane deductible work in Florida?
Under Fla. Stat. § 627.701(3), insurers generally must offer personal-lines residential policyholders hurricane deductibles of $500, 2%, 5%, and 10% of the dwelling limit, and which options must be offered depends on your dwelling limit. Read our article, Hurricane Deductibles.
Do I pay a separate hurricane deductible for every hurricane?
Not necessarily. For personal-lines residential policies, the hurricane deductible applies on an annual basis to covered hurricane losses during the calendar year, not once per storm. If an earlier hurricane loss already used part of the deductible, a later claim may be subject to the remaining hurricane deductible or the non-hurricane deductible, whichever is greater. Commercial residential policies are treated differently (Fla. Stat. § 627.701(5)).
How long do I have to file a property insurance claim in Florida?
Florida law generally requires you to notify your insurance company of a new or reopened property insurance claim within one year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim for additional loss or damage from the same peril generally must be reported within 18 months after the date of loss. See Fla. Stat. § 627.70132.
Special rules may apply in certain situations, including condominium loss-assessment claims and claims involving servicemembers deployed to a combat zone or combat-support posting. For hurricanes and certain other weather events, Florida law also has specific rules for determining the date of loss.
Your insurance policy may impose additional notice requirements, so you should report property damage to your insurer as soon as reasonably possible. Waiting to report a loss can create problems with your claim even if the statutory deadline has not yet expired.
Unsure Whether Your Windstorm Claim Was Handled Fairly?
Haahr Law Group can help.