Hurricane Isaias 2026: cleanup, insurance claims and FEMA status

What we know about Hurricane Isaias, as of October 19, 2026

We are a publisher, not a contractor. This page collects official facts and points you to the agencies handling recovery. Every figure below carries its source and date.

The storm. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, around 8:30 p.m. CDT on Friday, October 9, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, a Category 2 hurricane. CBS News reported it was the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season and, per NOAA data, the latest first hurricane in 121 years.

Wind, rain and surge. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Mobile/Pensacola reported peak gusts of 118 mph at Jay, 116 mph at Oriole Beach and 114 mph at Whiting Field South (report updated October 13). It reported widespread rain of 5 to 8 inches across the western Panhandle, topping out at 11.65 inches near Mary Esther, and surge flooding and beach erosion mainly along the Okaloosa County coast. At landfall, NHC noted a gauge in Panama City Beach at 5.6 feet above mean higher high water.

Deaths and outages. CBS News reported at least four deaths as of October 10: two in Escambia County, Florida, and two in Alabama. CBS reported more than 884,000 customers without power across Florida, Alabama and Georgia at 7:38 a.m. on October 10.

How much damage did Isaias cause?

Claims. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) reports 46,509 Isaias claims and about $582 million in estimated insured losses, as of October 15. Santa Rosa (22,894 claims), Escambia (13,677) and Okaloosa (4,334) lead the counties. Insurance Journal reported on October 15 that Karen Clark & Co. estimates about $3 billion in privately insured losses, excluding NFIP flood, and that aerial imagery firm Vexcel counted about 17,860 damaged structures across Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Citizens had received 860 claims by October 15.

Water. The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority issued a systemwide boil water notice in Escambia County on October 9 and lifted all Isaias-related notices on October 15.

Where do FEMA declarations stand?

OpenFEMA data refreshed on October 19 shows no major disaster declaration for Isaias. FEMA said the Florida emergency declaration covers emergency protective measures limited to direct federal assistance, at a 75% federal share (as reported by WJHG on October 9). It does not provide aid to households. Florida’s October 16 request also asks for Public Assistance in 15 counties. Florida DEM says residents in designated counties can apply once federal approval is granted and registration opens. There is no DisasterAssistance.gov registration deadline yet because registration has not opened. Escambia County said on October 16 that it and the City of Pensacola met the threshold for the state to request both Public Assistance and Individual Assistance.

Tampa Bay homeowners still recovering from Helene or Milton: Isaias does not change those programs, and no Tampa Bay county is in an Isaias declaration. See our Tampa Bay recovery program directory.

What to do now

1. Stay safe. Keep generators outside and away from windows. Avoid floodwater and downed lines. See our storm emergency steps and flood emergency steps.
2. Document before you clean. Photograph the outside first, then every room. Note where water came in: a roof opening, a broken window or rising water. This matters for the wind-flood split.
3. Call your insurer first. Report the homeowners claim and, if you have flood coverage, a separate flood claim. FEMA says it cannot pay for losses covered by insurance and that you must file with your insurer first.
4. Stop more damage. Tarp roof openings if it is safe and keep receipts. Florida DFS advises keeping damaged items for the adjuster if safe, or photographing items you must throw away.
5. Beat the mold clock. The Red Cross says to dry your home within 24 to 48 hours, and if you cannot, to assume mold growth. Ten days after landfall, treat anything that stayed wet as moldy. Pull out wet carpet, pad and drywall. Follow our mold after a flood plan.
6. Sort your debris. Florida DEM asks residents to separate curbside debris into six piles: vegetative, household hazardous waste, construction debris, household garbage, large appliances and electronics. Keep piles out of the roadway and away from trees, structures and downed lines.

County debris, permits and damage reports

Escambia County. WEAR-TV reported on October 13 that the county began collecting mainly vegetative debris on October 12 and expects cleanup to take about three to four months, in multiple rounds. The Citizen Information Line is 850-471-6600. Road closures are posted at MyEscambia.com.

Santa Rosa County. As of October 16, the county estimated over $247 million in damage from over 3,800 self-reports, with over 100 structures destroyed and over 400 with major damage. Report damage through the Property Appraiser at srcpa.gov/search. Residents can drop off vegetative debris free at the Central Landfill, 6337 Da Lisa Road, Milton, Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Keep household garbage and spoiled food out of storm debris. The county’s Citizen Information Line (850-983-4636) closed at 4 p.m. on October 18; resources are listed at santarosa.fl.gov/1196.

Permits. Santa Rosa County Building Inspections says a declared emergency does not waive permit requirements or authorize unlicensed contracting. Temporary measures such as tarping are allowed. Permanent roofing, structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work may need permits; email srcpermits@santarosa.fl.gov before starting. For other counties, check your county’s building department before permanent repairs.

Insurance and FEMA: wind, flood and your deductible

Wind vs. flood. Wind damage generally goes on your homeowners policy. Storm surge and rising water are flood, which standard homeowners policies exclude. Our hurricane damage guide explains the split, including rain that enters through wind-made openings. OIR reported only 76 private flood claims through October 15; NFIP claims are not in OIR’s count.

Hurricane deductible. Florida law defines the hurricane period as starting when NHC issues a hurricane warning for any part of Florida and ending 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or warning ends (Fla. Stat. 627.4025). NHC first issued a Florida hurricane warning at 10 p.m. CDT on October 7, and changed the last Florida hurricane warning to a tropical storm warning at 1 a.m. CDT on October 10. Your hurricane deductible is on your declarations page.

Florida claim deadlines, AOB and public adjuster rules

Deadlines. For hurricane claims, the date of loss is the landfall date: October 9, 2026. Florida Statutes 627.70132 gives one year from that date to report an initial claim and 18 months for a supplemental claim. For NFIP claims, FloodSmart says submit documentation within 60 days unless your insurer sets a different timeframe.

Assignment of benefits. For policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, Florida Statutes 627.7152(13) says an attempt to assign post-loss benefits is “void, invalid, and unenforceable.” Florida DFS says AOBs are prohibited for claims on policies issued or renewed on or after that date. A contractor who asks you to sign one is a red flag.

Public adjuster fees. Florida Statutes 626.854(11) caps public adjuster fees at 10% of claim payments for claims from an event under a governor’s state of emergency, for claims made during the year after the declaration. Governor DeSantis declared the Isaias emergency in Executive Order 26-202. Reopened and supplemental claims are capped at 20%. These caps apply to residential and condo unit owner policies. Public adjusters may solicit only Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. See our public adjuster guide.

FEMA. If Individual Assistance is approved, it covers only needs insurance does not. Our FEMA assistance guide explains how to apply and appeal.

This is general information, not advice on your claim. For help, call the Florida DFS Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236.

Contractor scams after Isaias

Florida DEM warns that unlicensed contracting becomes a felony during a state of emergency, which matches Florida Statutes 489.127. Before you sign anything:

• Contact your insurer first to confirm coverage (Florida DEM).
• Verify the license at MyFloridaLicense.com or by calling DBPR at 850-487-1395. Florida DEM warns that an “occupational license” only shows a local tax receipt.
• Get written estimates from several licensed contractors listing the work, materials, completion date and total cost.
• Never pay cash in full before work is done.
• Do not accept offers to waive your deductible, and do not sign an AOB.

Read our full guide to storm chaser scams.

Help and phone numbers (official only)

Florida DEM lists Multi-Agency Resource Centers in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties at FloridaDisaster.org/updates. SNAP recipients in 14 affected counties who lost food can request replacement benefits at MyFLFamilies.com/Isaias; Florida DEM lists the deadline as October 19, 2026. More guides are on our storm hub.