Florida’s geographic location makes it vulnerable to hurricanes and other natural disasters. Homeowners in Florida often find themselves grappling with the aftermath of hurricane damage, which can range from property loss to structural destruction.
As a homeowner, it is important for you to know the compensation and financial assistance options available for hurricane damage, so that you can restore and rebuild your home and recover from your losses.
Who Pays for Hurricane Damage in Florida?
Homeowners’ Insurance
The primary source of compensation available for hurricane damage in Florida is homeowners’ insurance. Under Florida law, insurance companies that provide homeowners’ insurance are required to provide hurricane damage coverage as well.
While the specifics of your policy might differ, most homeowners’ insurance policies in Florida cover the damage caused to your home as well as personal belongings. This includes hurricane coverage (windstorm coverage) for the damage caused by windstorms as well as the associated consequences of windstorms like falling trees and flying debris.
Your homeowner’s insurance policy might also include a provision for additional living expenses (ALE), which is meant to cover the costs of temporary housing, meals, and other living expenses for a short period of time if your home becomes uninhabitable due to hurricane damage.
It is important to note that insurance coverage for Florida hurricane damage typically does not cover flood damage. Even though your policy might include a provision for water damage, it is limited to the damage caused by leaky roofs, pipe bursts, and other such non-natural disaster related reasons. It does not cover the damage resulting from torrential rainfall, storm surge, and flash floods caused by hurricanes. To protect your home against these losses, you need to buy a flood insurance policy separately.
Depending on where you live and your eligibility criteria, you can purchase flood insurance coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) or from a private insurance company.
Property owners should be aware that if your car suffers hurricane related damage, it can be covered under a comprehensive auto insurance coverage policy. These policies typically pay out the vehicle’s current market value.
Florida Disaster Fund
The Florida Disaster Fund is a private fund established to assist individuals and families impacted by hurricanes and other natural disasters in Florida. It provides financial assistance to those who are affected by hurricanes to help them recover and rebuild their homes. This assistance might include grants to cover essential needs like temporary housing, home repairs, replacement of essential belongings, and other disaster related expenses.
Government Assistance for Hurricane Damage in Florida
My Safe Florida Home Program
The My Safe Florida Home program is designed to help homeowners harden their homes against hurricane damage. The program offers free home inspections to eligible homeowners to assess vulnerabilities and recommends mitigation measures that can reduce the risk of hurricane damage. The program also provides financial assistance to homeowners to implement the recommended mitigation measures.
Florida Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program
The Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program was created by the Division of Emergency Management and is funded by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Trust Fund. The program is designed to help homeowners and business owners harden their residential and commercial properties against hurricane damage. The program funds a wide range of activities including inspections of residential and commercial properties, retrofits, and modification of building components to protect against hurricane damage.
Unlike the My Safe Florida Home program, the Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program does not provide financial assistance directly to homeowners. The funding and other types of assistance are provided through government entities and nonprofit organizations.
Federal Assistance for Hurricane Damage in Florida
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers several forms of assistance to help homeowners recover from hurricane damage. It includes financial assistance for home repairs, replacement of essential belongings, and temporary housing assistance.
Hurricane Deductible and the Homeowners’ Financial Responsibility for Hurricane Damage in Florida
In Florida, hurricane deductible is a specific type of deductible that applies to homeowners’ insurance policies for hurricane damage. It is the amount of money you are required to pay to cover hurricane related losses before your homeowners’ insurance coverage kicks in.
Unlike a standard deductible, which applies to most types of claims, a hurricane deductible is triggered only when a covered loss occurs as a result of a hurricane. Hurricane deductibles in Florida are usually calculated as a percentage of the insured value of your home. They can typically range from 2% to 10%.
How Does Hurricane Deductible Work?
Let us assume that your home is insured for $300,000 and has a 2% hurricane deductible. In the event of a hurricane, you have to pay $6,000 (2% of $300,000) out of your own pocket towards hurricane-related losses before your insurance policy kicks in.
Choose Dedicated and Aggressive Legal Representation for Your Florida Hurricane Damage Claim
At Larry Moskowitz, PA, we know how devastating the consequences of a hurricane can be. We also understand how insurance companies in Florida unfairly deny, diminish or delay claims in the aftermath of a hurricane. It is why we are committed to fighting for the rights of homeowners and their families.
We have a team of experts who can inspect your property and assess the extent of damages you have suffered. Once we calculate the extent of damages, we can assist you with the claims process and make sure you are sufficiently compensated for the losses you have suffered.
Preeminent Florida hurricane damage attorney Larry Moskowitz is a former prosecutor and a seasoned civil litigator who has 35 years of experience in handling hurricane damage claims. He has the legal skills, experience and resources to take on powerful insurance companies, and he will not back down until they pay you what you are rightfully owed.
Larry Moskowitz, PA protects your financial interests with its “No Recovery ~ No Fee, No Costs” commitment. This means, if the insurance company has denied your claim, you do not owe any legal fees or costs unless we make a financial recovery for you. Call us today at 866-312-0708 to schedule your free case evaluation with us.