What to Do in the First 72 Hours After Hurricane Damage

Hurricane season in Florida is not a possibility — it is a schedule. And when a storm does come through, the most important phase of your insurance claim is not the negotiation months later. It is the first seventy-two hours, when the evidence is fresh, the damage is undeniable, and the decisions you make set the trajectory of everything that follows.

After three decades of representing Florida policyholders, we can usually tell within minutes of reviewing a file whether the homeowner protected their claim in those first days. Here is what that looks like in practice.

Document everything before you touch anything

Before any cleanup begins, photograph and video every damaged area — wide shots that show context and close-ups that show severity. Walk every room, the attic, the roof if it is safe, the exterior from all four sides. Date-stamped phone photos are fine. You cannot over-document; you can absolutely under-document.

Mitigate, but keep the receipts — and the debris

Your policy requires you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage — tarping a roof, drying out water. Do that. But keep every receipt, and where possible keep the damaged materials themselves. Insurers frequently dispute the cause of loss; the physical evidence is your answer.

Notify your insurer promptly — in writing

Florida policies require prompt notice, and recent legislation has shortened claim-filing windows. Report the claim quickly, get a claim number, and follow up in writing so there is a record of when and what you reported.

Do not sign anything you do not understand

In the weeks after a storm, contractors, public adjusters, and insurer representatives will all put paper in front of you. Assignments of benefits, releases, settlement checks marked “final” — each one can change your legal position permanently.

An insurer’s first offer after a hurricane is a starting position, not a verdict. Once you sign the release, the conversation is over.

If your claim has been delayed, lowballed, or denied, have it reviewed before you accept anything. Our consultation is free, and hurricane claims are handled on contingency — no recovery, no fee.