What to do after Hurricane Isaias damage in Florida (2026)
Safety first, then the camera: if Hurricane Isaias damaged your Florida home in October 2026, film every room before you move anything. Then call the insurer for a claim number. Tarp what is open and keep the receipts.
You have until October 9, 2027 to report a new claim. Photos taken in the first days still show the storm damage before mold and repairs change it.
Key takeaways
Photos and video come before cleanup, and the insurer call comes right after.
Stop more damage with a tarp or plywood, and keep every receipt.
Isaias deadlines: October 9, 2027 for a new claim, April 9, 2028 for a supplemental one (Florida Statute 627.70132).
Your insurer has 7 days to acknowledge the claim and generally 60 days from notice to pay or deny it (Florida Statute 627.70131).
Cannot reach your insurer? The state insurance helpline is 1-877-693-5236 (Department of Financial Services).
What are the first steps after hurricane damage?
Get everyone out of danger. Stay away from downed power lines and standing water.
Photos first, cleanup second. Stay off the roof; shoot it from the yard.
Report the damage to your insurer and write down the claim number.
Put a tarp or plywood over anything open to the weather, and keep the receipts.
Hold on to damaged items until the adjuster has seen them. Anything that has to go gets photographed first.
How do I document hurricane damage for my insurance claim?
Photograph and film each room and each outside wall before you move anything. Take wide shots first, then close-ups of each damaged spot. Turn on the date stamp if your phone has one.
Shoot wind damage and water damage separately and label them, because they can go to two different insurers. Our storm surge vs wind damage page explains that split.
Write a simple list of damaged items with the age and cost of each, as best you remember. Keep it on paper or in a phone note.
Who do I call first, and what do I say?
Call your insurer or agent and report the damage. Ask for a claim number, and write down the date and the name of the person you spoke with.
Describe what you see. "Shingles missing on the back slope and water on the bedroom ceiling" tells the adjuster more than "the roof is destroyed."
Under Florida Statute 627.70131, the insurer has 7 days to acknowledge your claim. If it inspects, that happens within 30 days after it receives your proof of loss statements. It then has 60 days after notice to pay or deny all or part of the claim. Some situations pause that clock. Our page on the 60 day rule lists them.
Call us when a week has gone by with no word from your insurer, and we will go through your claim number and phone log with you. Call 954-466-5730
What emergency repairs can I make, and what should I keep?
A tarp over the roof and plywood over broken windows are the usual emergency repairs. Drying out wet rooms counts too.
Photograph the repair work and keep every receipt. Hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer has had a chance to inspect, unless waiting would let more damage happen.
If you cannot live in the home, your policy may cover extra living costs such as a hotel. Keep those receipts with the rest.
Should I throw away damaged items?
Keep damaged items until the insurer inspects. If something cannot stay, photograph it, then throw it out.
Spoiled food and anything hazardous can go once it is on camera.
What deadlines apply to an Isaias claim?
Claim type | Deadline | Source |
New or reopened claim | October 9, 2027 (1 year) | Florida Statute 627.70132 |
Supplemental claim | April 9, 2028 (18 months) | Florida Statute 627.70132 |
Insurer pays or denies | 60 days after notice, with some pauses | Florida Statute 627.70131 |
Both deadlines count from landfall day. A supplemental claim adds damage or cost you find later to a claim you already filed.
Who else can I call about my claim?
The Florida Department of Financial Services runs an insurance helpline at 1-877-693-5236. It also runs a mediation program for some residential property claims.
A public adjuster's fee is generally taken from the claim payment, with a 10% cap for qualifying claims in the year after a Governor-declared emergency. Our fees page sets out the rules.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wait for the adjuster before I tarp my roof?
Tarp it now, after you photograph the damage, and keep the receipt. Policies expect you to protect the home from more damage, and a roofer can put the tarp on for you.
Can I report a claim if I am not sure how much damage there is?
You can report the damage you see today and add more later. Hidden damage, such as wet insulation or ceiling stains that show up days later, can go on the same claim or a supplemental claim.
What if I cannot reach my insurer?
Log each attempt with the date and time. Then call the state helpline at 1-877-693-5236 and give them your policy number.
Talk to a licensed public adjuster
If you have a claim number and a stack of receipts from the first week, keep both next to you when you call.
General information only. Coverage depends on your policy and the facts of your claim. Base Claims is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
Base Claims Public Adjusters, 2400 NE 9th St, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Benji Licht, Licensed Public Adjuster, FL Lic. #W523574. Yossi Garber, Licensed Public Adjuster, FL Lic. #G173942.
THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR BUSINESS. IF YOU HAVE HAD A CLAIM FOR AN INSURED PROPERTY LOSS OR DAMAGE AND YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH THE PAYMENT BY YOUR INSURER, YOU MAY DISREGARD THIS ADVERTISEMENT.
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