EDITORIAL: You, your insurance, and hurricanes

Hurricane season is just about ready to blow in, and that means it's a good time to go over your insurance policy and, if you don't have one, to get one.

Obviously home insurance is big business in Florida where people pay almost as much attention to hurricane forecasts as their medical check-ups.

Twin hurricanes in 2024 exposed a lot of problems with insurance — from filing claims, to coverage, to collecting on damages.

Hurricane insurance is a necessity but it also can be confounding if you don't have a clear knowledge of what your policy covers and what it does not

And collecting on claims — which should be simple — can be a quagmire of paperwork and end in disappointment.

Just ask any county or city government about collecting claims. Many are still waiting for payment.

And, good advice is to not count on FEMA to bail you out.

The number one bit of advice is, purchase flood insurance — especially if you live close to any body of water. If you still have a mortgage most lenders require flood insurance.

Too often, however, home owners who do not live near the beach or a river believe they are safe. That is not true

If you live anywhere near water, from a home on the coast, one close near a dam that sees frequent floods to one downhill from a creek that hasn't flooded for what seems like forever, you probably should buy a separate flood insurance policy to cover your home and its contents.

What do you look for in an insurance policy?

Wind damage is covered under most homeowners policies, but expect high deductibles and limits if your roof was old or had any problems.Flooding from storm surge or rising water is not covered unless you have separate flood insurance (NFIP or private).People often need insurance to cover temporary housing after their home is damaged. That is not always included in a policy.And remember, you can't wait until a storm is forming to upgrade your policy. Insurance is frozen once a storm is named.

So how do you make sure you get paid?

Delays are not unusual, especially after a major storm. In 2024, when Florida got hit by two storms — Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton — claims were so numerous it took months to settle most and some are still not 100% satisfied.

Some of the problems include arguments over what the policy covers, backlogs from too many claims at once, and repeated requests for paperwork that slow everything down.

Hiring a mediator to represent you with your insurance company is not always a bad idea but it is not a guarantee they can speed things up. And, normally there will be a fee involved.

In settling a claim, there can be disagreements whether damage was caused by flooding or strong winds. Many insurers claim flood damage isn't covered by standard homeowner policies.

There is always tons of paperwork to present to insurers and that can be challenging if you're not in your home or dealing with trying to find a safe place to live.

The bigger the hurricane, the more claims and the longer the process will take. Good photos of your damage are important. Keep receipts of repair work too.

Inspections are normally required to check the damage and again after the repairs are completed — and those can take time.

Keep in close contact with your insurance company. Ask for updates frequently.

And, finally, hold out for full payment. It's not unheard of for larger insurance companies to delay final payments and count on frustrated home owners to settle for less.

Let's hope for a second straight calm hurricane season. But it's always best to prepare for the worst.