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How do you document hurricane damage?
Before you start cleaning up, though, you should document all of the damages as-is.
AARP recommends walking through your house – if you’ve already ensured it is safe to, using the FEMA’s checklist – and recording a video walk-through of what every room looks like before you start cleaning up.
Taking as many photos and videos as you can of the damage is important for providing thorough evidence to your insurance provider.
“Even photograph the insides of closets, cabinets and drawers. Don’t throw anything to the curb without photographing it first — if you do, it will be difficult to provide your insurance company with a complete damage inventory,” Farmers Insurance’s Head of Claims Customer Relations Jim Taylor told AARP.
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How long do you have to file an insurance claim after a hurricane in Florida?
According to this Florida statute, which went into effect last year, you have only one year to file an insurance claim for hurricane damage.
This means one year from the date the storm made landfall, meaning if you’re filing an insurance claim for damages from Hurricane Idalia, you have until August 30, 2024 to file a claim.
When should I call my insurance provider to report hurricane damages?
You should file your claim as soon as you can. You don’t want to give your insurance provider a chance to blame your damages on something happening in the time since the hurricane.
“Once you get back to your property and you see what the extent of the damage is, that’s the best time to notify your insurance company, and you would want to do that as soon as practicable,” Taylor told AARP.
How can I properly throw away damaged items like furniture and electronics?
There isn’t really anything you can do to salvage upholstered furniture, electronics or appliances that have been damaged by water.
When you’re throwing your damaged items out on the curb, remember to group them appropriately — separating furniture and appliances from organic matter like tree limbs or spoiled food — so they can be picked up according to your city’s proper waste disposal guidelines.
Lianna Norman covers trending news in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at lnorman@pbpost.com. You can follow her reporting on social media @LiannaNorman on X.
