An Overview of Making Claims for Hurricanes in Florida

Anyone who has ever suffered damage resulting from a hurricane knows how difficult and frustrating dealing with insurance companies can be.  Your hurricane insurance premium had better be in on time every month, but almost without fail, hurricane damage claims drag on for months if not years.

Before the hurricane season starts, every year, take a little time to sit down and review your homeowner’s policy line by line.  If you have any questions, contact your insurance agent and make sure they’re all addressed to your satisfaction.  If anything seems even a bit unclear, ask for it in writing.

One problem we often see is that homes are underinsured, and the homeowner does not find out until a claim is made. Typically, the mortgage company only requires enough to cover their mortgage, and that ends up being the amount of insurance coverage. It is not unusual for this to be far less than the value of the home. Believe it or not, many policies will actually penalize you for not having enough insurance. This “co-insurance” clause gives the insurance company the right to pay even less than your policy provides. Make sure you have enough insurance coverage.

It may also be a good idea to take stock of everything as it currently exists on your property.  Experts recommend having pictures of your home prior to any hurricane related storm damage that might occur.  If there is a storm coming, you might also want to take a picture of the preparations you made beforehand, such as boarding up the windows or pulling possible projectiles inside.  Keeping these at a remote location or very safely tucked away is a good idea.

When it comes to making a claim for personal property, one common tactic is for insurers to require you to make a detailed inventory of every single item, which must include a value associated with each item. When you have suffered a catastrophic loss, this can be a terrible burden. It’s best to prepare beforehand and take photographs and lists of possessions. It is also recommended that you keep (in a safe, dry place) the receipts for any big-ticket items, such as telephones, furniture, computers, etc.

If you do suffer damage, and everyone is all right, grab a camera and take a new series of pictures just as soon as possible after the whole storm has passed.  Be sure and take the new photos from the same perspective as the previous ones.  This will give the most accurate view of how things have changed as a result of hurricane damage.

Next, contact your insurance agent.  If your agent isn’t available and local damage is extensive, there may be a special number set up for hurricane claims, though it is often best to talk with the agent you already know and trust, if possible.  Regardless, making the call quickly will hopefully get you on the top of the list of homes to be inspected.

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