The NHC hurricane warning for the Florida Panhandle started Florida's hurricane deductible period. What the deductible costs, when your claim is due, and what the insurer owes you.
The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for the Florida Panhandle for Hurricane Isaias. In Advisory 7A (7:00 AM CDT, October 8, 2026) the warning ran from Ocean Springs, Mississippi to the Bay/Gulf county line in Florida, with landfall forecast late Friday or early Saturday. Under Florida law, that warning started the hurricane deductible period for Florida policies.
When the hurricane deductible applies
Fla. Stat. 627.4025(2)(c) defines the duration of a hurricane in Florida:
- It begins when the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for any part of Florida.
- It ends 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or hurricane warning for any part of Florida ends.
Wind damage from Isaias inside that window is a hurricane loss. Your policy’s hurricane deductible applies to it, not the all-other-perils deductible. How the two deductibles differ.
What the hurricane deductible costs
Florida insurers must offer hurricane deductibles of $500 and 2, 5, and 10 percent of the dwelling limit, with exceptions for higher dwelling limits (Fla. Stat. 627.701(3)). Your declarations page shows which one you carry.
| Dwelling limit (Coverage A) | 2% deductible | 5% deductible | 10% deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $5,000 | $12,500 | $25,000 |
| $400,000 | $8,000 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
Three more rules from the statutes:
- One hurricane deductible per calendar year. For personal residential policies, the hurricane deductible applies on an annual basis to all hurricane losses in the calendar year under policies from the same insurer or insurer group. After an earlier 2026 hurricane loss, the insurer may apply the greater of the remaining hurricane deductible or the all-other-perils deductible (627.701(5)(a)).
- Keep records of damage below the deductible. The same subsection lets insurers require you to report hurricane losses below the deductible, or keep receipts, to count them toward a later hurricane claim.
- Separate roof deductible. If one applies, the insurer can hold the roof payment at actual cash value until you show proof you paid that deductible (627.7011(3)(a)).
Below the deductible is the top closed-without-payment reason
After Hurricane Milton, FLOIR’s data showed below deductible as the largest reason claims closed without payment: 38.5% of Milton’s closures and 30.4% of Helene’s. A below-deductible closure is the insurer’s estimate that the damage costs less than the deductible. The FLOIR figures and four denial documents.
Isaias claim deadlines
| What | Deadline | Fla. Stat. |
|---|---|---|
| Date of loss for a hurricane | The landfall date | 627.70132(3) |
| Notice of a new or reopened claim | 1 year after the date of loss | 627.70132(2) |
| Notice of a supplemental claim | 18 months after the date of loss | 627.70132(2) |
| Insurer acknowledges your communication | 7 days | 627.70131(1)(a) |
| Insurer inspects the property, if it inspects | 30 days after proof of loss | 627.70131(3)(b) |
| Insurer pays or denies, in writing | 60 days after your notice | 627.70131(7)(a) |
Governor DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 Panhandle and Big Bend counties in Executive Order 26-202, signed October 6, 2026.
The full guide, with the live NHC warnings, roof rules, and first steps after the storm: Hurricane Isaias insurance claims in Florida.
Not legal advice; consult an attorney about your specific claim. Sources: National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Isaias public advisory; 2026 Florida Statutes, sections linked above; State of Florida, Executive Order 26-202.
General information, not legal advice, laws and policies vary and change. Confirm current statutes and your own dates with a licensed attorney before acting.