Florida Hurricane Preparation Guide
Preparing for hurricane season involves more than shuttering windows. Reviewing insurance declarations, verifying hurricane deductibles, creating photo inventories, and separating wind from flood coverage ensure you're protected.
Key Hurricane Preparation Takeaways
Five vital steps every Florida property owner should take before a storm forms.
- ✓Keep Policy Documents Accessible: Store physical and digital copies of your declarations pages, insurer claim phone numbers, and agent contact details off-site or in cloud storage.
- ✓Complete a Pre-Storm Photo/Video Inventory: Walk through each room, closet, and garage filming condition and model tags before severe weather occurs.
- ✓Calculate Your Hurricane Deductible in Dollars: Hurricane deductibles are typically 2%, 5%, or 10% of Coverage A (Dwelling). For a $500,000 home, a 2% deductible is $10,000 out-of-pocket.
- ✓Confirm Separate Flood Insurance: Homeowners insurance covers wind and wind-driven rain entering through structural damage, but never rising storm surge or canal overflow.
- ✓Follow Official Emergency Directives: Property can be repaired; personal safety is always the highest priority. Follow local Broward County emergency orders.
Hurricane Season FAQs
Clear answers to common storm questions.
Can I purchase or adjust insurance coverage when a hurricane is approaching?
No. Insurance carriers declare binding restrictions (moratoriums) once the National Hurricane Center issues a tropical storm or hurricane watch/warning within a defined box around Florida. No new policies or limit increases can be bound until restrictions are lifted.
How does the calendar-year hurricane deductible work if two storms hit in one year?
Under Florida Statute 627.701, the hurricane deductible applies on an annual calendar-year basis. Once you satisfy the deductible during the first hurricane claim of the calendar year, any subsequent hurricane damage within the same year is subject to your standard "all other perils" deductible (typically $1,000 or $2,500).
What should I do immediately after hurricane property damage?
Ensure family safety first. Take extensive photos and videos of the damage before moving anything. Take reasonable temporary steps to prevent further damage (such as placing a tarp over a roof leak or boarding a broken window), and retain all receipts for materials.