Insurers Prepared to Deploy Significant Resources to Assist Customers After Hurricane Milton

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - As Hurricane Milton takes aim at Florida's west coast, insurers are preparing to surge claims representatives into impacted areas to help customers begin the claims and recovery process, says the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA).

"We urge those in the projected path of the storm to prepare their property and heed all warnings from local officials," said Logan McFaddin, vice president of state government relations at APCIA. "This storm is expected to bring historic impacts to the Tampa area just as many people are dealing with damage from Hurricane Helene. Insurers will be there to help their customers every step of the way."

If a property owner experienced damage from Helene, it is important to take action to protect the property from further damage, such as getting rid of or securing debris that could be blown around and cause more damage when Milton enters the area. If an adjuster hasn't seen the damage from Helene yet, make sure to document the current condition of the property with photos and videos and make a list of what was damaged or destroyed by Helene. This will be especially helpful in situations where the hurricane deductible wasn't met by Hurricane Helene-related damages.

If a property owner already has a claim open from Hurricane Helene and their property is further damaged from Hurricane Milton, they will need to file a separate insurance claim. However, most homeowners and residential commercial policies have a hurricane deductible, which typically is cumulative per calendar year and not per storm, so if a customer didn't meet their deductible from a previous named storm, it may carry over and apply towards the deductible for Hurricane Milton.

As Floridians make their final preparations, there are steps property owners can take before a storm strikes to help expedite the claims process afterwards. APCIA recommends taking the following actions:

1. Gather copies of your insurance policies. Keep copies of your insurance policies (home, flood, and auto) in a safe, dry, and accessible location or have your policy numbers saved.
2. Save your insurer's contact info. Save your insurer's toll-free claims number to your cell phone's contacts. APCIA has a list of insurer's toll-free numbers here.
3. Make a home inventory. Use your smartphone to take photos or videos of your belongings, such as furniture, appliances, clothes, lawn equipment, art, jewelry, and anything else of significant value. Save your inventory to a place where you can easily retrieve it, like the cloud, or email a copy to yourself. You can also check if your insurer has an app to assist policyholders with creating a home inventory. A home inventory will be especially helpful if an adjuster needs to differentiate between damages from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

Damage associated with wind and other severe weather is typically covered under a standard homeowners, renters, or business policy. Flood damage is not typically covered under these policies but can be covered under a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or the private insurance market if the homeowner has purchased flood insurance. Water damage to a vehicle is typically covered if the policyholder's auto policy includes comprehensive insurance coverage.

Additional APCIA Resources:

APCIA's Hurricane Headquarters

What to Do Before a Hurricane

What to Do After a Hurricane

Flood Insurance: What You Need to Know

Be Better Prepared for Hurricane Season

How to Avoid Contractor Fraud & Abuse

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