Hurricane Season Insurance Checklist for Central Florida Homeowners

Oct 20

4 min read

If you have lived in Central Florida for a while, you remember the storms by name. Charley tore through Orlando in 2004 and left blue tarps on roofs for months. Irma knocked out power across the region in 2017. Ian stalled over us in 2022 and flooded neighborhoods in Orange and Seminole Counties that had never flooded before. Milton in 2024 brought tornadoes and another round of downed oaks.

Being inland helps, but it does not make you safe. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the time to check your insurance is before a storm shows up in the forecast cone. Here is the checklist we use with Central Florida homeowners.

1. Know Your Hurricane Deductible in Dollars

Most Florida homeowners policies have two deductibles: one for most claims and a separate hurricane deductible. The hurricane deductible is often a percentage of your dwelling coverage, commonly 2%, 5% or 10%.

That percentage adds up fast. On a home insured for $350,000, a 2% hurricane deductible is $7,000, and a 5% deductible is $17,500. Write the dollar figure down and ask yourself whether you could pay it after a storm.

One helpful rule: under Florida law, the hurricane deductible on a personal residential policy applies once per calendar year with the same insurer. If two hurricanes hit in one year, you generally do not pay the full hurricane deductible twice. For the second storm, you pay whichever is greater: the part of the hurricane deductible you have not used yet, or your regular deductible.

2. Remember That Flood Is Not Covered

Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood, meaning rising water from rain, lakes, rivers or overflowing retention ponds. Central Florida has a lot of all four.

A few things to know:

Flood policies through the National Flood Insurance Program usually have a 30-day waiting period. If you wait until a storm is named, it is too late for that storm.
Flood zones are not a guarantee. Many Ian flood claims came from homes outside high-risk zones.
Citizens policyholders have a flood requirement. If your home is insured with Citizens Property Insurance and your policy includes wind coverage, Florida law is phasing in mandatory flood insurance. For 2026, it applies to homes in high-risk flood zones and homes with dwelling coverage of $400,000 or more. Starting January 1, 2027, it applies to all Citizens personal residential policies with wind coverage, with some exceptions such as condo unit-owner policies.

3. Check Your Roof and Your Wind Mitigation Report

Your roof is the first thing a hurricane tests and the first thing an insurer asks about. Know its age and keep your permit records.

A wind mitigation inspection documents features like roof shape, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections and opening protection such as impact windows or shutters. Florida insurers are required to offer premium discounts for qualifying wind-resistant features. If you have made upgrades since your last inspection, a new report may lower your premium. Inspections are typically good for five years.

The state's My Safe Florida Home program has offered free inspections and matching grants for some upgrades. Funding comes and goes, so check the program's website to see whether it is currently accepting applications.

4. Make Sure Your Dwelling Coverage Matches Today's Rebuilding Cost

Building costs jump after big storms. If your dwelling coverage was set years ago, it may not cover a rebuild today. Ask about:

Replacement cost versus actual cash value on your roof and belongings
Ordinance or law coverage, which helps pay to bring a damaged home up to current building code
Loss of use (additional living expenses), which helps pay for a hotel or rental if your home is unlivable

5. Look for the Small Exclusions

Pool cages, screen enclosures, fences and detached structures are common storm claims here, and some policies limit or exclude them for wind. Tree removal coverage often depends on whether the tree hit a covered structure. Read these sections now, while you can still make changes.

6. Do a Home Inventory

Walk through your house recording video of every room, including closets and drawers. Photograph serial numbers and receipts for big purchases, then save it all to cloud storage. It takes about 30 minutes and can make a claim much easier.

7. Know the Claim Rules Before You Need Them

Deadlines: Under Florida law, you have one year from the date of loss to report a new or reopened property claim, and 18 months for a supplemental claim. For hurricanes, the date of loss is generally the date the storm made landfall.
Prevent more damage: Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps, like tarping a roof or drying out wet areas. Keep receipts and take photos before and after.
Be careful with storm chasers: For property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, Florida no longer allows homeowners to assign their policy benefits to a contractor. Be wary of anyone who knocks on your door asking you to sign over your claim.

8. Do Not Wait Until a Storm Is Named

When a storm threatens Florida, insurers commonly suspend writing new policies or making coverage changes in the affected area. These "binding restrictions" can last until the storm passes. If you want to raise your coverage, add flood or change your deductible, do it early in the season.

Hurricane Insurance FAQs

Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane damage in Florida?

Most Florida homeowners policies cover wind damage from hurricanes, subject to a separate hurricane deductible. They do not cover flood. Some policies exclude wind, usually when wind coverage is bought separately. Check your declarations page to confirm.

When is hurricane season in Florida?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with the most activity usually from mid-August through October.

Can I buy insurance when a hurricane is coming?

Often not. Insurers commonly stop writing new policies and coverage changes once a storm threatens an area. NFIP flood policies also usually have a 30-day waiting period.

Get Your Policy Reviewed Before the Next Storm

Fortrest Insurance is an independent agency serving Orange, Seminole and Lake Counties and The Villages. We can review your current policy, explain your hurricane deductible in dollars and compare options from more than one carrier.

Call 689-375-6407 or email info@fortrestinsurance.com to set up a review.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Your policy's wording controls your coverage.