Hurricane Ian, one of the strongest storms ever to hit Florida, created havoc across several cities in the state. It toppled power lines in Florida, resulting in two million businesses and houses losing electricity. The storm was a Category 4 hurricane and made landfall in southwest Florida on September 27th, 2022. It ripped off roofs, flooded many buildings, and caused extensive property damage.
In Fort Myers, the storm damaged several boats and buildings. In addition, many cities in Florida, such as Punta Gorda, had a lot of debris and fallen trees, completely blocking the streets. Multiple buildings completely collapsed in the city of Punta Gorda near the flooded river, and several other cities faced similar destruction.
The severe property damage resulted in a steep rise in insurance claims in Florida. Florida home insurance policies typically include hurricane insurance, but there is a hurricane deductible.
Insurance companies require policyholders to file a claim within three years of the damage caused when a hurricane hits. Most types of property insurance policies cover roof damage, water damage, structural damage of the building, broken doors or windows, garage, shed, and fence damage, debris cleanup, and temporary relocation expenses.
Insurance claims have been filed in high numbers since the hurricane made landfall. When Hurricane Ian hit, insurance companies expected a rise in claims after the storm; however, the sheer number of claims has overwhelmed the system.
Recently at the beginning of December, the OIR (Office of Insurance Regulations) stated that more than 358,000 homeowners had filed insurance claims for reimbursement of their damages. About 95,000 of those claims, as reported by the department, were closed without any payments. According to ABCNews, approximately 57% of residential property claims were closed, with 145,745 paid by November 30th.
More than 2000 commercial residential claims were filed in Florida after the Hurricane hit. Around 439 insurance claims regarding business interruptions were also recorded by insurance companies, out of which 50.3% were closed by the end of November. The NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau) revealed that insurance claims had spiked to nearly half a million after Hurricane Ian, with most of them being filed from South West Florida.
Unfortunately, there has also been a rise in fraudulent claims. The NICB also issued an advisory for insurance policyholders, telling them to be patient and not rush the process to avoid being scammed. Numerous claims were closed without payments after Ian because of the need for documentation submitted with the claim. Many policyholders with denied claims got their claims reopened after providing sufficient evidence of the damage. Policyholders should have complete information about starting an insurance claim after a natural disaster. For more information, policyholders can visit the APA website.
According to Florida Home Claim, P.A., homeowners should carefully review their home insurance policies before filing a claim. Most home insurance policies cover wind damage and storm surges, but exceptions exist. For example, flood damage is generally excluded from the coverage. If you don’t understand anything, seek guidance from an attorney.
People who live in hurricane-prone areas would be required to own separate coverage for flooding. In Florida, hurricane claims have high deductibles because the state is highly vulnerable to hurricanes, and these deductibles can apply.
It takes around 90 days for insurance companies to process the claims concerning hurricane damage. Suppose a policyholder wants to expedite the process. In that case, they should contact their insurance provider immediately after the hurricane hits to inform them about the damage and seek guidance from an experienced insurance attorney.
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