Storm and hurricane damage: safety, tarping, claims, and contractors
This hub covers hurricane, wind, hail and storm damage: safety, temporary repairs, claims, water and mold, and contractor scams. The rule that matters most: return home only when authorities say it is safe, and never run a generator indoors (Ready.gov). Then photograph the damage, make only the repairs needed to stop more damage, and keep every receipt for your insurer.
Happening right now? Go to the first-48-hours stepsFirst 48 hours
- Storm, hurricane or tornado: what to do in the first 48 hoursAfter a hurricane, tornado or storm: avoid downed lines, leave if you smell gas, photograph damage, tarp the roof safely and turn away storm chasers.
- Flood: what to do in the first 48 hoursAfter a flood, go home only when officials say it is safe. Avoid floodwater, keep generators outside, photograph damage, then file a claim and apply to FEMA.
- Water damage: what to do in the first 48 hoursBurst pipe or leak? Shut off the water main, stay clear of wet electrics, photograph everything, call your insurer and dry out within 24 to 48 hours.
Hurricanes
- Hurricane damage: wind, surge, rain and what each means for claimsHurricane damage comes from wind, storm surge and rain, and each can fall under a different policy. How the wind-flood split, deductibles and NFIP work.
- Hurricane Isaias 2026: cleanup, insurance claims and FEMA statusHurricane Isaias hit near Destin, Florida, on Oct. 9, 2026. Where FEMA aid stands, how to file wind and flood claims, Florida AOB rules and official numbers.
Water and mold after a storm
- Mold after a flood or hurricane: the 72-hour, 2-week and 60-day planAfter a flood, assume mold if you can't dry out within 24 to 48 hours. A plan for the first 72 hours, two weeks and 60 days, with Florida claim rules.
- Flood cleanup step by step: from muck-out to dry-outHow to clean a flooded home safely: re-entry checks, photos for your claim, what to throw out, how far to cut drywall, drying, and lead and asbestos cautions.
- Water mitigation vs restoration: what's the difference?Mitigation stops the damage: water removal, drying and temporary repairs. Restoration rebuilds what was lost. Here is how each is scoped, billed and claimed.
Insurance
- Storm and roof damage claims: how the process worksHow a storm or roof damage claim works: what to photograph, wind vs. flood, hail, matching, deductibles, deadlines and Florida's roofing-claim rules.
- Does homeowners insurance cover water damage? Sudden vs gradualUsually yes for sudden leaks like a burst pipe, usually no for slow leaks, flooding or sewer backup. How insurers draw the line, with a decision table.
- FEMA disaster assistance: who qualifies, how to apply, appealsFEMA Individual Assistance helps with uninsured needs after a declared disaster. Who qualifies, how to apply, why claims are denied, and the 60-day appeal.
- Home insurance claim denied? How to read the letter and appealFind the policy reason in the denial letter, get the claim file, then use reconsideration, appraisal, mediation or a complaint. Florida steps included.
- Public adjusters: what they do, what they charge, when to hire oneA public adjuster is a licensed pro you hire for a share of your claim payout. What they do, Florida's 10% and 20% fee caps, and how to check a license.
Recovery assistance programs
- Hurricane recovery assistance for homeowners: what exists and who runs itRepair grants, reimbursement, FEMA, SBA and state programs after a hurricane, sorted by who runs them. Start with your county to find the right office.
- Hurricane recovery assistance in Tampa Bay: who handles your addressPinellas, St. Petersburg, Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee, Sarasota and Hernando run different hurricane recovery programs. Find the office for your address and its status.
- How insurance, FEMA, SBA and recovery grants stack after a hurricaneDuplication of benefits in plain English: what counts against a hurricane recovery grant, what does not, and why a declined SBA loan is not held against you.
What it costs
- Water damage restoration cost: Angi, HomeGuide, Forbes, FixrWater damage restoration usually costs $1,300 to $6,400, with published averages of $3,000 to $3,868. Compare every source by category, class and date.
- Public adjuster fees by state: caps, math and what to askPublic adjusters usually charge a percentage of your claim payout. See verified state fee caps (FL, TX, NY, VA, CA) and a worked example of the math.
Hire a pro
- Storm chaser scams: how roofing and repair fraud works after a stormHow storm chaser roofers and repair scams work, why deductible waivers are a felony in Florida, AOB rules, cancellation rights and what state AGs advise.
- Restoration scams and red flags: deposits, AOBs and unlicensed workThe restoration red flags state attorneys general warn about: big deposits, claim-rights paperwork, deductible waivers, storm chasers and unlicensed work.
- Questions to ask any restoration company before you signAsk these questions before a water, mold or fire restoration company starts work: license, IICRC certification, written scope, insurance paperwork, payment.
What should you do right after the storm passes?
Wait for the all-clear. Ready.gov advises returning home only when authorities say it is safe. Stay away from downed power lines and standing water, which can be electrically charged. Do not touch electrical equipment that is wet or while you are standing in water. Use a generator or other gas-powered machine only outdoors and away from windows. Our storm emergency page lists these steps in the order you will need them.
How does storm damage usually unfold?
Storm damage often starts with the roof and openings, then becomes a water problem. Wind lifts shingles, breaks windows and drops trees. Rain then gets in through the gaps, sometimes for days before anyone notices. Storm surge and river flooding bring a different kind of water from outside. Each source is treated differently by insurers, so it helps to know which one you have. If water came in, the 24–48 hour drying clock for mold applies, and mold after a flood explains what to watch for in the weeks that follow. Our hurricane damage guide walks through the full sequence.
Stop further damage, then document it
Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage, such as tarping a roof or boarding a window. Photograph the damage before and after any temporary fix, and keep receipts. Do not make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects unless your insurer agrees. Write down the date and time you first saw each problem.
Filing a storm claim
Wind and hail are the most common homeowners claims. The Insurance Information Institute reports about 2.8 wind and hail claims per 100 insured homes each year over 2019–2023, averaging $14,747 each. Report the loss promptly and ask your insurer about your hurricane or wind deductible, which is often different from your regular deductible. In Florida, notice of an initial or reopened claim must be given within one year after the date of loss under §627.70132. Our storm damage claim guide covers the steps, and FEMA assistance explains what federal aid can cover after you have filed with your insurer.
Hiring after a storm: the scam window
Storms draw door-to-door contractors who offer to “handle the insurance.” Be careful. In Florida, §489.147 bars contractors from offering gifts or deductible waivers in exchange for a roof inspection or claim, and from interpreting your policy or adjusting your claim unless they also hold a public adjuster license. Read storm chaser scams and restoration scam red flags before you sign anything.
Current storms
When a named storm hits, we publish a dated page for it. Hurricane Isaias (2026) covers the October 2026 landfall near Destin, Florida.
Sources
- Floods, Ready.gov (FEMA) (October 17, 2024)
- Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and renters insurance, Insurance Information Institute (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Florida Statutes §627.70132, Notice of property insurance windstorm or hurricane claims, The Florida Senate (2025)
- Florida Statutes §489.147, Prohibited property insurance practices, The Florida Senate (2025)