Short answer: After hurricane damage in Orlando, document all visible damage before any repair, take reasonable steps to prevent further loss and keep the receipts, confirm your hurricane deductible on the declarations page, and report the claim within 1 year of the date of loss under Fla. Stat. 627.70132.
Step 1: Document all visible damage first
Before any repair, photograph everything: roof and missing shingles, debris impact, ceiling and wall stains, damaged siding and fencing, and interior flooring. Orlando storm damage is rarely obvious from the ground, so capture multiple angles where it is safe. Thorough documentation in the first 24 to 72 hours is what supports the full scope later.
Step 2: Prevent further damage
Florida policies require you to take reasonable steps to limit additional loss. Temporary tarping and water mitigation are appropriate; permanent repairs should wait until the carrier inspects. Keep every receipt, these emergency costs are often reimbursable.
Step 3: Understand your hurricane deductible
Many Orange County homeowners are surprised that hurricane losses carry a separate deductible, a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat amount. On a $350,000 home, a 2% hurricane deductible is $7,000 out of pocket before the carrier pays. Confirm the figure before you file.
Step 4: File on time and track the carrier's clock
Under Fla. Stat. 627.70132 you must report a new claim within 1 year of the date of loss and a supplemental within 18 months. In return, Fla. Stat. 627.70131 requires the carrier to acknowledge within 7 days, inspect within 30, and pay or deny within 60 days of notice, with statutory interest on late payment.
Step 5: Separate wind damage from flood
A standard Orlando homeowners policy covers wind, not flood. Storm surge and rising water are covered only under a separate NFIP or private flood policy. When both occur, the cause-of-loss line decides which policy pays. Document that interior water entered through a wind-created opening, a lifted shingle, failed flashing, or a broken window, rather than rising from the ground, so the loss stays on the wind policy where it belongs.
Step 6: Watch for the items carriers omit
Central Florida hurricane claims commonly leave off:
- Matching for mismatched roofing under Fla. Stat. 626.9744
- Code upgrades under ordinance-or-law coverage
- Hidden moisture inside walls and under flooring
- Overhead and profit when a general contractor is required
- Additional living expenses while the home is uninhabitable
An independent estimate is the way to catch them.
A note on the carrier's clock
Once you give notice, Fla. Stat. 627.70131 starts the carrier's deadlines: 7 days to acknowledge, 30 to inspect, 60 to pay or deny. If the insurer misses the 60-day mark, statutory interest accrues from the date of notice, a real dollar cost the carrier owes you. Keep every communication in writing so the timeline is provable.
Keep a claim diary
From the first call, log every interaction: dates, names, claim and adjuster numbers, what was promised, and what arrived. In a busy Orange County catastrophe season, claims pass between multiple adjusters, and details get lost. A simple running log is what lets you hold the carrier to its statements and prove a missed deadline later. Save voicemails and confirm phone conversations with a follow-up email so there is a written record.
What to do next
If an Orlando claim was denied, delayed, or underpaid, a free claim review will tell you whether representation is likely to help. Ocean Point's Orange County adjusters work no recovery, no fee under Fla. Stat. 626.854. Call (888) 824-1306 or request a free claim review.