Subtropical Storm Nicole is forecast to impact Florida’s southeast and eastern coast this week as a strong tropical storm and potentially a Category 1 hurricane. As Florida residents closely monitor the situation and make their preparations, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) is offering tips to help ensure homeowners and business owners are ready to file a claim if their property is damaged.
“Now is the time to gather copies of your insurance policies, save your insurer’s contact information to your phone, and make a home inventory,” said Logan McFaddin, APCIA’s vice president of state government relations. “These simple actions will help ensure you can file a claim quickly if your property is damaged.”
Damage associated with wind and other severe weather is typically covered under a standard homeowners, renters, or business policy. Flood damage is not typically covered under these policies but can be covered under a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or the private insurance market. Water damage to a vehicle is typically covered if the policyholder’s auto policy includes comprehensive insurance coverage.
APCIA urges Floridians to take the following actions to prepare for Subtropical Storm Nicole:
- Gather copies of your insurance policies. Keep copies of your insurance policies (home, flood and auto) in a safe, dry, and accessible location or have your policy numbers available.
- Save your insurer’s contact info. Save your insurer’s toll-free claims number to your cell phone’s contacts. APCIA has a list of insurer’s toll-free numbers here.
- Make a home or business inventory. Use your smartphone to take photos or videos of your belongings, including furniture, appliances, clothes, lawn equipment, jewelry, and art. Save your inventory to a place where you can easily retrieve it. You can also check if your insurer has an app to help with creating a home inventory.
APCIA also urges homeowners to mitigate potential damage to their home by preparing their property for high winds and heavy rain. Steps such as checking your roof and making repairs to loose or damaged shingles, trimming branches and shrubs away from the house, clearing the yard of debris, securing gutters, and sealing gaps and cracks around windows and doors can help mitigate damage.
Additional APCIA Resources:
APCIA & Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate’s Prevent Contractor Fraud & Abuse Guide
Flood Insurance: What You Need to Know
The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) is the primary national trade association for home, auto, and business insurers. APCIA promotes and protects the viability of private competition for the benefit of consumers and insurers, with a legacy dating back 150 years. APCIA members represent all sizes, structures, and regions—protecting families, communities, and businesses in the U.S. and across the globe.
