Need to file a claim? Florida's CFO has this advice for storm victims

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis met WPTV in St. Lucie County after the tornadoes to offer advice to storms victims looking to get repairs.

By: Matt Sczesny , Scott Sutton

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — Many neighborhoods and homes have sustained damage or been destroyed by tornadoes from Hurricane Milton.

Insurance experts tell WPTV that most policies require homeowners to make emergency repairs to stop any more damage. Residents are advised to keep their receipts.

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis met WPTV in St. Lucie County after the tornadoes to offer more advice.

"People need to pay attention to their push notifications, their text messages, their voice mails," Patronis said. "They're going to be getting outreach from their carriers because their carriers want to start the process because there's going to be arguably half a million claims from this."

WATCH BELOW: Florida CFO speaks to WPTV after local tornadoes

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis offers advice for storm victims

The CFO warns affected homeowners to be cautious about signing documents.

"Do not sign anything," Patronis said. "Anytime you may sign a document, you may be giving your claim to a total stranger that's trying to take advantage of you."

Patronis said some storm victims may be pressured by contractors who are going door to door seeking to sign over insurance rights. The CFO urges people to contact their insurance company first.

MORE INSURANCE RESOURCES

The Department of Financial Services' (DFS) Division of Insurance Consumer Services provides information and resources to help guide policyholders through the insurance claims process.

DFS also operates the state's insurance helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236) to aid policyholders and provide insurance assistance. The helpline is now open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those affected can also request assistance online at MyFloridaCFO.com.

The Florida CFO provided the following answers to common post-storm insurance questions below:

Q: My house was damaged in one of the recent hurricanes (Milton or Helene) and I've never filed an insurance claim before, what do I do? Where do I start?

Contact your carrier or agent directly who sold you your insurance policy.
Also, you can find claims contact information on your insurance policy front page.
You can also go search for your company’s contact info at https://companysearch.myfloridacfo.gov/.
Finally, you can reach our consumer assistance staff at https://myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/storm/resources or 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

Q: How do I know whether I have insurance or not?

It's best to contact your insurance agent or company to ask questions about the specific coverage you have.
Did you pay for coverage and if so, what kind of coverage do you believe you might have? Flood insurance, hurricane/wind insurance and auto insurance are usually found in separate policies.
Your home insurance generally doesn’t cover flood. Your car isn’t covered by your home insurance just because it was in your garage.

Q: Will the insurance company cover work done by a contractor, roofer, or tree company who’s knocked on my door? Can I go ahead and do the work and just send the insurance company the bill?

It is often better if you allow your insurance company to inspect your damage before you sign up with anyone to assist you or to do repairs. You risk having to pay for certain expenses out of pocket if you try to work around the claims process and bypass your insurance company. It is best not to sign anything or agree to anything until you know how your company is going to respond.
If you need assistance, contact the Department's Insurance Consumer Services Division or 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

Q: My house was flooded, and I received wind damage – Who do I file a claim with and who pays the bill?

Flood insurance and hurricane/wind insurance are usually found in separate policies. If you have both types of damage and both types of policies, you should file claims with each of them.
The insurance adjusters who evaluate the damage will determine what portions of your loss are flood and what parts are wind. It is fairly common for both policies to pay some portion of the loss, if both types of damage occurred.

Q: My car was damaged from the storm – do I file a normal auto-claim with my auto insurance company?

Yes, auto losses should be filed with your auto insurance company.
Reach out to your insurance agent or company to ask questions about the coverage you have.

Q: Does a normal homeowner’s insurance policy cover flood damage?

No, flood insurance is almost never included in a homeowners insurance policy. Hurricane/wind insurance, flood insurance, and auto insurance are usually found in separate policies.
If you are in doubt about whether you have flood coverage, reach out to your insurance agent or company to ask questions.

Q: What is a public adjuster? Should I use one?

Public adjusters are insurance professionals that you can hire and pay to help you with your claim.
Public adjusters offer a service to those who need them. However, if you feel like your insurance company is handling things appropriately and you feel comfortable working with the company to file the necessary documentation they need, you may not want to incur the extra expense of a public adjuster.

Q: How do I spot fraud? Where do I report it?

If someone doesn’t show you their Florida license, pressures you to sign something, or asks for money up front, beware!
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING! It is very likely that their intentions are not honorable. You can report suspected fraud at https://myfloridacfo.com/division/cid/home or by calling the Department's Insurance Fraud Hotline at 1-800-378-0445.

Q: My insurance company isn’t being responsive. What do I do?

The insurance claims process can be complicated after a hurricane, if you feel you have given them adequate time and they are not responding to you, the Department can assist.
Click here or call our Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

Q: I signed a contract before I spoke with my insurance company. Did I make a mistake? Can I do anything about it?

If you feel you made a mistake, you might be able to cancel the contract you have signed.
Roofing contracts may be canceled within 10 days from the date the contract is entered into or the date of commencement, whichever is shorter. Public adjuster contracts may be canceled within 30 days after the date of loss, or 10 days after the date on which the contract is executed, whichever is longer.
You can contact DFS for more information.

Q: How do I find the contact number for my insurance company?

Your insurance company likely has a claim contact information on your insurance policy front page.
If you still need help. You can also search for your company's contact information here.
Finally, you can reach the state CFO's consumer assistance staff or by calling 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

Matt Sczesny is determined every day to help you find solutions in Florida's coverage collapse. If you have a question or comment on homeowners insurance, you can reach out to him any time.