As of writing this, Hurricane Milton is a rapidly intensifying category 5 storm with a projected track making landfall near Tampa, and affecting most of the state. It is projected to be at least category 3 storm at landfall, with up to 139 mph winds, and a storm surge of up to 15ft in the worst affected areas. Hurricane Milton is coming just one week after Hurricane Helene caused significant flooding to large swaths of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. If the Tampa area takes a direct hit, it will be the first time a major hurricane has hit it in over 100 years. That being said, nearly all of the west coast of Florida is on alert, and will most likely experience some impacts and have insurance claims from Milton whether they be from damaging winds, storm surge, or both.
Many have already evacuated, some are taking care of final preparations before evacuating, and others are making the decision to stay. First and foremost, stay safe and review good resources like Ready.gov’s web page on hurricane preparedness for additional information on measures you can take to protect life and property. For those who are about to leave, and those planning to ride out the storm here are some tips to assist in getting a leg up on recovery and your claim once the storm passes.
- Document Your Property: Take photos and videos memorializing the condition of your property prior to the loss. Be sure to include interior and exterior walkthroughs, furnishings, and personal belongings.
- Download Your Policies: Get digital copies of your homeowner’s insurance and flood insurance. Download and backup copies of your homeowners and flood policies. Be sure to have at minimum the declaration pages.
- Aggregate Critical Documentation:
- Photo ID’s (to prove identity of household members)
- Birth certificates (to maintain or re-establish contact with family members)
- Social Security cards (to apply for FEMA disaster assistance)
- Medical records
- Pet ID tags
- File Your Claim(s) Early: As soon as reasonably possible after the storm, if you believe you have damage, file your claims with your respective insurance carriers. This is imperative to receiving prompt attention to your claim. Remember, if you are subject to both wind and flood these are separate claims.
After Milton passes, many Florida residents will be facing a long and difficult road to recovery. Our Tampa public adjusters at Prime Adjustments stand ready to assist those affected by hurricane Milton as they begin the process of navigating their insurance claims. Again, stay safe and be sure to help one another.
