As Hurricane Insurance Claims Mount, Florida Governor Extends State of Emergency

Thousands of 2017 and 2018 Florida hurricane insurance claims remain unresolved, but several counties will benefit from newly qualified federal emergency funds.

According to a Dec. 28, 2019 article at TheCenterSquare.com, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the extension of a state of emergency for a dozen counties along the Atlantic coast that took the brunt of Hurricane Dorian. Predicted for weeks to directly hit Florida, Dorian brushed along the coast where damage was significant, but not as widespread as feared.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) estimates insured losses from Dorian to be just over $19 million. When Dorian approached Florida, it was a Category 2 hurricane. Counties including Indian River, Brevard and Flagler counties reported several inches of rain and damage from high sustained winds. The FLOIR reportedly received 5,764 total hurricane insurance claims as a result of Dorian, and 3,113 of those involved homeowners insurance for residential property.

Waiting on Hurricane Insurance Claims

When Category 5 Hurricane Michael hit Florida on Oct. 10, 2018, the storm caused estimated insured losses of more than $7.4 billion. The devastation caused the loss of homes, businesses, electricity, forest land, timber and crops across the state.

According to CBS News, Hurricane Michael caused damage in the U.S. totaling approximately $25 billion.

At least 16 people in Florida died as a result of Hurricane Michael, which blew through the Florida Panhandle with 150-mph winds.

CBS News reported from Mexico Beach, Fla. in October, just one year after Michael devastated the town of 1,200. Only 400 residents call the town home now.

Mexico Beach Mayor Al Cathey also manages the local hardware store. He’s been mayor for 15 years, and although it’s been a struggle, the town is starting to become a bit more optimistic.

“When 75 percent of your city is destroyed, things aren’t gonna happen quickly in a year,” Cathey told CBS News.

Not one gas station, bank or grocery store currently thrive in the small town.

Some folks blame slow insurance payouts and jumping through hoop after hoop for government assistance. FEMA still houses many survivors in trailer parks in Panama City, and Tyndall Air Force Base continues to dig out of its devastated condition, despite gains made through a $700 million investment on repairs.

According to FLOIR, there are more than 11,400 insurance claims related to Hurricane Michael that remain open.

Prior to Michael, Hurricane Irma hit Florida with Category 4 strength on Sept. 10, 2017, causing $50 billion in damage in the U.S. before it was all over.

FLOIR reports more than $11 billion in estimated insured losses resulted from Irma in Florida alone. Of the 1,002,821 total insurance claims received as a result of Hurricane Irma’s damage, 76,298 of those remain open, and a majority of those are residential property claims.

Despite the billions of dollars of damage done as hurricanes have ravaged Florida, forecasters see a few silver linings. According to TheBalance.com, if Hurricane Irma had hit Miami as a Category 5 storm, the city would have incurred $300 billion in damage.

Instead, Irma hit areas that had been damaged by Hurricane Charley in 2004 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992, where the rebuilding of damaged homes had to meet new, more strict building codes that helped them better withstand hurricanes. According to TheBalance.com, about 80 percent of the homes hit by Irma consisted of these improved construction requirements.