What to Do Before the Storm to Protect
Your Insurance Claim
The best evidence you will ever have is the evidence you collect before any damage happens. This guide walks you through exactly what to document, where to store it, and what to check in your policy — so that if a hurricane, windstorm, or tornado hits, you are not starting from scratch.
Why Pre-Storm Documentation Changes the Outcome of Your Claim
Insurance adjusters cannot dispute damage they can see never existed before the storm. That is the entire logic behind pre-storm documentation — and it is one of the most effective tools a Florida homeowner has going into a claim. A well-documented home gives your attorney something concrete to work with. An undocumented one leaves room for an insurer to argue that the damage was pre-existing, excluded, or overstated.
Ten minutes of photos and video now can be worth thousands in your settlement later. This is not a worst-case scenario exercise. It is the most practical thing you can do before hurricane season arrives.
Room-by-Room Photo and Video Guide
Work through your home systematically. The goal is to capture every room, every major system, and every item of value in enough detail that its pre-storm condition is undeniable.
Start Outside
Walk the full perimeter of your home before you go inside. Photograph the roof from every angle you can safely reach — from the ground is fine. Capture the condition of gutters, soffits, fascia, and any exterior walls. Document your fence, detached garage, pool enclosure, screened lanai, and any outbuildings. If you have a generator, HVAC unit, or other mechanical equipment outside, photograph it from multiple angles and capture the model and serial numbers.
Work Room by Room Inside
In each room, record a slow pan video that captures the full space, then follow with still photos of anything of value. Open closets. Open cabinets. Pull back area rugs if the flooring underneath matters. Photograph ceilings, walls, and floors — not just furniture. In the kitchen and bathrooms, photograph under sinks and note any pre-existing water staining or minor damage so it cannot later be misattributed to a storm event.
Document Serial Numbers and High-Value Items
For appliances, electronics, and any item with a serial number, photograph the item and its serial number tag in the same frame. For jewelry, art, collectibles, or other high-value personal property, photograph each item individually and keep receipts or appraisals in your documentation file. Your homeowner's policy may have sublimits on certain categories — which is exactly the kind of thing a policy review can surface before it surprises you at claim time.
Capture Your Attic and Crawl Space
These are the spaces adjusters most frequently contest after a storm. A pre-storm photo or video of your attic condition — insulation intact, no staining, no existing damage — eliminates the most common disputes about whether roof damage was storm-caused or pre-existing.
Where to Store Your Documentation
Photographs stored only on your phone are at risk in a hurricane. Use at least two of the following:
- A cloud storage service such as Google Photos, iCloud, or Dropbox — set to automatic backup before storm season begins
- A shared folder with a trusted family member outside your area
- A USB drive kept with your important documents in a waterproof container
- Email a compressed folder to yourself so it exists in your inbox with a timestamp
The timestamp matters. Cloud services and email servers log the date and time a file was uploaded or sent. That timestamp is part of your documentation record.
Build a Home Inventory Before Storm Season
A home inventory is a written record of what you own, what it cost, and what it would take to replace it. Most homeowners do not have one. Most homeowners who file claims wish they did.
Your inventory does not need to be elaborate. A spreadsheet with the following columns is sufficient:
- Item description
- Room or location
- Approximate purchase date
- Purchase price or estimated replacement cost
- Serial number or model (where applicable)
- Photo file name or reference
What to Review in Your Policy Before the Storm Arrives
Most Florida homeowners have not read their insurance policy. That is not a criticism — policies are written to be difficult to read. But there are four things every homeowner should understand before hurricane season begins, and a policy review is the fastest way to get clear answers.
Your Hurricane Deductible
Florida homeowners policies almost always carry a separate hurricane deductible — expressed as a percentage of your home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. A 2% hurricane deductible on a $400,000 home means you are responsible for the first $8,000 of storm damage before your coverage begins. Know your number before the storm tells you what it is.
Your Hurricane Deductible
Florida homeowners policies almost always carry a separate hurricane deductible — expressed as a percentage of your home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. A 2% hurricane deductible on a $400,000 home means you are responsible for the first $8,000 of storm damage before your coverage begins. Know your number before the storm tells you what it is.
Wind vs. Flood Coverage
Standard homeowners policies cover wind damage. They do not cover flooding. If you live in a flood zone — or anywhere near the coast — you likely need a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood carrier. Many homeowners discover after a storm that the water intrusion they assumed was wind-driven rain is being categorized as flooding by their insurer. Understanding this distinction before a claim exists changes how you document, how you report, and how you respond.
Your Hurricane Deductible
Florida homeowners policies almost always carry a separate hurricane deductible — expressed as a percentage of your home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. A 2% hurricane deductible on a $400,000 home means you are responsible for the first $8,000 of storm damage before your coverage begins. Know your number before the storm tells you what it is.
Your Coverage Limits and Dwelling Replacement Cost
Is your home insured for actual cash value or replacement cost? Actual cash value policies apply depreciation to your claim — meaning you receive what your damaged property was worth at the time of the storm, not what it costs to rebuild. Replacement cost coverage pays to restore your home to its pre-storm condition. The difference between these two structures can be substantial. Your policy will specify which applies, and it is worth knowing now.
Endorsements That Change Your Baseline Coverage
Endorsements are policy add-ons that expand or restrict your standard coverage. Some are valuable — extended replacement cost, ordinance or law coverage, equipment breakdown. Others add exclusions that narrow what your insurer will pay. A policy review identifies every endorsement on your policy and explains what it actually means for your coverage.
Get a Free Policy Review
Before Hurricane Season
Diane Zimmerman offers free insurance policy reviews to Florida homeowners — before and after a claim is filed. If you are in a planning mindset right now, this is the right time to call. Send your policy, and Diane will tell you exactly what you have, what you are missing, and what to watch out for if a storm hits.
This is not a sales call. It is a straight answer to the question every Florida homeowner should be asking: am I actually covered for what I think I'm covered for?
If a storm has already hit and you are dealing with a denied, delayed, or underpaid claim, the hurricane claims page covers what your next steps should be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I photograph before a hurricane for insurance purposes?
Photograph every room in your home, all exterior surfaces including the roof, fence, and outbuildings, and any item of value with a serial number or replacement cost. Record a slow video pan of each room in addition to still photos. The goal is to establish the pre-storm condition of your entire property so an adjuster cannot later dispute what existed before the damage.
How do I store my home documentation so I don't lose it in a storm?
Use cloud storage — Google Photos, iCloud, or Dropbox — set to automatic backup. Also email a compressed folder to yourself for a timestamped copy. Never rely solely on your phone or a local hard drive. At least one copy of your documentation should exist on a server outside your home before the storm arrives.
What is a hurricane deductible and how is it different from my regular deductible?
A hurricane deductible is a separate, higher deductible that applies specifically to hurricane-related damage on Florida homeowners policies. It is typically calculated as a percentage of your home's insured value — often 2% to 5% — rather than a flat dollar amount. This means your out-of-pocket cost before coverage begins can be significantly higher than your standard deductible.
Does my homeowners policy cover flood damage from a hurricane?
Standard homeowners policies cover wind damage but exclude flooding. Storm surge, rising water, and flood-driven water intrusion are generally not covered under a standard policy — they require a separate flood insurance policy. Whether wind-driven rain qualifies as wind damage or flooding is one of the most frequently disputed issues in Florida hurricane claims.
When should I get a policy review?
Before hurricane season is the best time — ideally before June 1. A review at that stage gives you time to request changes, add endorsements, or explore alternative coverage if gaps exist. Diane offers free policy reviews to Florida homeowners at any point, whether a storm is approaching, the season is just beginning, or you already have a claim in progress.
What is a home inventory and do I really need one?
A home inventory is a written record of what you own, what it cost, and what it would take to replace it. It is not required to file a claim, but homeowners who have one recover faster and dispute less. Without an inventory, you are relying on memory to reconstruct the contents of your home after a disaster — which is an unreliable basis for a claim.