June 1 Is Coming: The Policy Review I Do With Every Client Before Hurricane Season
There is a hard deadline in Florida insurance that nobody talks about until it bites: when a tropical system enters the forecast area, carriers impose binding restrictions and stop writing new policies or increasing coverage. That means the window to improve your protection closes without warning. Here is the review I run with clients every spring.
Check the four numbers
Dwelling limit — does it still reflect current rebuild cost given construction inflation? Hurricane deductible — what is it in dollars, and can you cover that? Loss of use — will it pay for a rental long enough given how scarce housing gets after a regional storm? Personal property — is it replacement cost or actual cash value?
Those four numbers determine most of your outcome. Everything else is detail.
Confirm the coverages people forget
Ordinance or law coverage pays the extra cost of rebuilding to current code, which matters most on older homes. Screen enclosure and pool cage coverage is often sublimited or excluded — in our area those are expensive structures. Fence, shed, and detached garage coverage sits under other structures, typically a percentage of dwelling.
And flood, again. It is the exclusion that causes the most heartbreak, and the 30-day waiting period means it has to be handled early.
Do the practical prep too
Refresh your home inventory video. Trim trees away from the roof line. Photograph the roof from the ground. Confirm your shutters or panels are complete and the hardware exists. Fill prescriptions. Know your evacuation zone, which is not the same thing as your flood zone.
Then put my number in your phone. If something happens, I would rather you call me than a call center. My office is right here in Ruskin — (813) 633-0006.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When does hurricane season start and end in Florida?
- Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity typically from mid-August through early October.
- Can I buy or change insurance when a storm is approaching?
- Usually not. Carriers impose binding restrictions once a tropical system enters a defined area, halting new policies and coverage increases until the threat passes.
- What is loss of use coverage and how much do I need?
- It pays for temporary housing and additional living costs while your home is uninhabitable after a covered loss. After a regional storm, housing is scarce and expensive, so higher limits are worth considering.
- Is my evacuation zone the same as my flood zone?
- No. Evacuation zones are set by emergency management based on storm surge modeling, while flood zones are FEMA designations used for insurance and floodplain management. You should know both.
Let's make sure your coverage matches your life
I'm Chaz Toomey, right here in Ruskin. Send me a few details and I'll review your policy or build a quote — no pressure.