Bridgette Bello, a Florida resident, thought she was prepared for hurricanes by having flood insurance, a hurricane-specific policy, and regular homeowners coverage. However, after being hit by two hurricanes, she is facing delays and denials on her damage claims. The insurance industry is categorizing the storms separately, making it challenging for those affected by both to get their claims approved. Reforms in Florida have limited legal recourse for challenging claims decisions, leaving many with financial losses. Most of the damage came from flooding, which is not covered by many homeowners insurance policies. The lack of flood insurance in Florida is leaving many residents in a difficult situation.
For those with insurance, the combination of storms is creating major complications. Insurance companies may deny claims if they don’t have flood insurance, even for damage caused by wind-driven rain. Victims of catastrophic losses due to water damage have little options for rebuilding, with some walking away from their homes. Victims like Patti Drew, who didn’t have homeowners insurance, are relying on FEMA assistance and GoFundMe pages for relief.
The National Flood Insurance Program only covers up to 50% of property value for flood damage, leaving homeowners to cover the rest out of pocket. Policyholders may be tempted to sue for denials, but reforms in Florida have made legal action costly. This has led to calls for more comprehensive reforms in how insurance companies address hurricane damage in the state. Some lawmakers are pushing for changes to provide better coverage for all Floridians affected by storms.
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