Flood or Wind? Why One Florida Storm Can Mean Two Claims

A single hurricane hits your house, but the insurance company treats it as two entirely different events. It brings wind from above and water from below. Because most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, you often have to file two separate claims under two different policies to recover your losses.

Why there are two claims

Most Florida homeowners policies cover wind, but not rising water. Coverage for storm surge or rising water comes from a separate flood insurance policy. When a major hurricane strikes, it often brings both severe wind and rising water. To get paid for all the damage to your home, you must file one claim for the wind damage and a completely separate claim for the flood damage. This site's founder knows it first-hand: his own Hurricane Ian claim involved both wind and flood.

What wind covers and what flood covers

Wind insurance covers damage caused directly by the force of the wind, and usually rain that enters your home after the wind damages your roof, windows, or walls. Flood insurance covers damage caused by a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land. In plain words: water that rose from outside and came in at ground level is the flood policy's question; rain that came in through an opening the wind made is the wind policy's question. Where both happened to one room, both adjusters look at it, and your own photos of each are what tell them apart.

Who writes each policy

The wind portion is written by your Florida homeowners or windstorm insurer. The flood portion is usually a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy, and sometimes a private flood policy; your declarations page says which. Even if you bought the flood policy through your regular insurance agent, the NFIP is run by the federal government through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (fema.gov).

The two adjusters and the one storm

Because the policies are completely separate, you will get two different adjusters. The wind adjuster only evaluates wind damage, and the flood adjuster only evaluates flood damage. The wind adjuster is not there for the water line on your baseboards, and the flood adjuster is not there for the missing shingles. Expect to walk the house twice, once with each, and to show each one the damage that belongs to their policy.

What to photograph for each

Use your own phone to photograph everything before anyone cleans up. For wind, focus on the roof, broken windows, and the ceilings or walls where rain came in. For flood, photograph the highest water line on the walls, both inside and out, and the damaged floors. Save these in your Storm File so you have a complete, dated record to show both adjusters. Do not rely on their photos alone.

Deadlines that differ

The two policies run on different clocks. The Florida clocks for your homeowners claim (one year to give notice, 18 months for a supplemental claim) are explained in The Two Deadlines That Can End a Florida Storm Claim. For an NFIP flood claim, the federal policy sets its own clock: a signed and sworn Proof of Loss within 60 days after the loss. The policy says none of its terms can change without FEMA's written consent, so never assume an extension.

Where to check your own policy

Look at your policy declarations pages right now. You should have one for your homeowners or windstorm policy, and a separate one for your flood policy if you purchased one. If you only have one document, you may not have both kinds of coverage, and that is a question for your agent before the next storm forms.

Questions about your specific situation belong with the state or a licensed pro: the Florida Department of Financial Services runs a free insurance consumer helpline at 1-877-693-5236 (myfloridacfo.com).