Get your home on record before the next storm.
Five short sections. Do one a weekend. When a storm hits, everything an adjuster, a contractor, or your lender asks for is already in one place.
Everything you type is saved only in this browser, on this device. Nothing is sent to anyone, including the person who shared this with you.
Section 1 of 5
The basics
The phone numbers and facts you will need on day one, when you may not have power or internet. Write them here, then write them on paper too.
From the Ian record: the first calls after a storm come fast. Having the claims number and the policy location written down before the power goes out saves hours you will not have. If the words on your declarations page are new to you, the insurance words guide translates them.
Section 2 of 5
Room by room
Use your phone. Take wide shots first, then details. Check each item off as you go. Your photos stay on your phone; this list keeps track of what you have covered. The home inventory guide explains the method in full.
Outside and roof
0 / 4
Kitchen
0 / 4
Living areas
0 / 4
Bedrooms and closets
0 / 3
Bathrooms
0 / 2
Garage and lanai
0 / 2
Systems
0 / 3
Keep the originals. Most phone cameras save the date and time inside each photo. Do not edit or crop the originals. Make copies if you need to.
Section 3 of 5
Belongings list
After a total loss, you are asked to list everything you owned, from memory, with ages and prices. Start the list now while it is easy. Begin with the ten most expensive things in the house.
| Item | Room | Brand or model | Year bought | About what it cost | Receipt is where | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65-inch TV Example | Living areas | Brand and model on the label photo | 2023 | $800 | Email receipt, folder "Home" | |
| Refrigerator Example | Kitchen | Serial number photographed | 2021 | $1,900 | Paper receipt, blue binder |
Add an item
Section 4 of 5
Important papers
Check off what you have, and write down where each one lives. Keep a scanned copy somewhere outside your house, like a cloud folder or with a relative. Not sure whether you need a flood policy as well as homeowners? Read why one storm can mean two claims.
Section 5 of 5
Storm diary
After a storm, write down every call, visit, and promise: the date, who it was, what they said, and what happens next. You will be asked about these conversations weeks later, and memory fades fast.
| Date | Who | What they said | Next step | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (date) | Insurance company claim line Example | Reported the damage. Was told an adjuster would call. | Write down the claim number and the name of who you spoke to. | |
| (date) | Roofer, name and license number Example | Came out to look. Gave a verbal price only. | Ask for a written estimate. Check the license on the state website. |
Add an entry
Get it in writing. If someone tells you something important by phone, send a short email or text afterward repeating what they said. Then log it here. The deadlines guide puts the two legal clocks on your calendar.
Your Storm File summary
Copy, print, or download everything you have filled in. Send a copy to someone outside the house, so it survives even if your phone or computer does not.
A backup is a file you keep. Email it to yourself or put it in your cloud drive. We never receive it.
Questions people ask
Is the Storm File really free?
Yes. No account, no email address, no payment. It is free for every Florida homeowner, and it stays free when an agent shares it with you.
Who can see what I type?
Only you. Everything you type is saved in your own browser, on your own device. It is never sent to After the Storm FL or to the person who shared the Storm File with you.
What if I lose my phone or clear my browser?
The file lives only on that device, so it would be gone with it. Use Save a backup to keep a copy in your email or cloud drive, and Restore a backup to bring it onto a new phone. Copy, print, or download the summary too, and send one to someone outside the house.
Is the Storm File available in Spanish?
Yes. The Archivo de Tormenta is the same tool in Spanish. Both pages read the same saved file on your device, so you can switch languages without losing anything.
Is this insurance or legal advice?
No. The Storm File is a record-keeping tool and general information from first-hand experience. It does not tell you what to claim or what you are owed. For claim or legal matters, consult a licensed Florida professional.
The Storm File is a record-keeping tool and general information from first-hand experience. It is not legal or insurance advice, and it does not tell you what to claim or what you are owed. After the Storm FL does not adjust, negotiate, or advocate insurance claims (Fla. Stat. §626.854).
Rows and entries marked Example show how to fill things in. Add your own and they disappear.
New to this? Start with what goes in a Storm File, then the rest of the guide.
Realtors, insurance agents, lenders, property managers: put your name on the Storm File and give it to your clients.