OIR is closely monitoring Hurricane Helene and its impacts to Florida's insurance industry. This page provides information regarding OIR's Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts and additional resources for impacted policyholders and insurers.
Governor DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for 41 counties in Florida for Hurricane Helene. Executive Order 24-209 is available here. The Florida Division of Emergency Management's disaster information page for Hurricane Helene is available here.
In coordination with the Florida Department of Health, OIR has distributed a notice to all health insurers, managed care organizations, and other health entities, reminding them they must comply with with provisions of section 252.358, Florida Statutes, which allows for early prescription refills in the event the Governor issues an Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency. This mandate remains in effect until the Governor’s Executive Order is rescinded or expires.
More information on early prescription refills is available here.
Following Governor DeSantis' Emergency Order 24-209, and pursuant to sections 252.63(1) and 627.4133(2)(d)1., Florida Statutes, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued Emergency Order 400385-24 for Hurricane Helene.
On September 24, OIR issued an Notice to Industry to all authorized residential property insurers to provide guidance on hurricane preparedness and claims handling. Insurers were directed to review all aspects of their disaster preparedness and response
plans to ensure they are in compliance with Florida law.
The Notice to Industry is available
here. Additional information regarding consumer protection legislation signed by Governor DeSantis to support Florida policyholders
when disaster strikes is available
here.
OIR instituted a data call for the purpose of collecting catastrophe claims data related to Hurricane Helene. Information regarding catastrophe claims data for Hurricane Helene will be made available on this page. Recent claims reporting notices and other resources are available below:
OIR captures data in its efforts to evaluate catastrophe claims and compels all insurers to report data as of each required reporting date, per section 624.307, Florida Statutes. This aggregate information is compiled from claims data filed by insurers. It has not been audited or independently verified. Companies will be required to begin submitting data on September 27, 2024, and the data covers all claims based on filings received by OIR to date. Additional data calls may be conducted. Data for previous storms is available on the Catastrophe Claims Data and Reporting page here.
OIR encourages consumers who are having issues with a claim to report it. Click here to report an issue with a claim.
Total Estimated Insured Losses:$1,990,543,518
OIR required insurers report estimated and paid losses. Estimated or case incurred losses include indemnity case reserves and payments to date.
Data as of November 18, 2024
Lines of Business
Number of Claims Reported
Number of Open Claims with Payment
Number of Open Claims w/o Payment
Number of Claims Closed with Payment
Number of Claims Closed w/o Payment**
Percent of Claims Closed
Total Incurred Loss
Claims Closed without Payment due to Non-Covered Flood Damage
Claims without Payment -All Other Reasons
Claims Closed without Payment due to Damage Below deductible
Residential Property
60,843
3,661
10,890
16,997
29,295
76.1%
$487,615,951
8,690
12,397
8,208
Homeowners
48,045
2,722
8,460
12,250
24,613
76.7%
$346,209,048
7,464
10,471
6,678
Dwelling
5,860
284
1,336
1,274
2,966
72.4%
$41,032,392
774
1,110
1,082
Mobile Homeowners
6,219
639
659
3,379
1,542
79.1%
$58,079,965
436
733
373
Commercial Residential
719
16
435
94
174
37.3%
$42,294,546
16
83
75
Commercial Property
4,342
1,321
2,300
554
167
16.6%
$340,752,728
176
516
187
Private Flood
4,283
1,187
2,509
441
146
13.7%
$203,479,389
7
150
10
Business Interruption
101
10
62
20
9
28.7%
$1,488,921
0
7
2
Commercial Auto
1,569
280
543
597
149
47.5%
.
20
113
16
Private Passenger
59,258
13,555
7,263
34,162
4,278
64.9%
.
572
3,359
313
TOTALS
135,505
19,410
26,209
54,511
35,375
66.6%
$1,990,543,518
9,502
16,919
8,919
*Other Lines of Business may include Fire, Farmowners’ Multi-Peril, Ocean Marine, Inland Marine, Aircraft, Glass, Boiler and Machinery, Industrial Fire, Industrial Extended Coverage, and Multi-Peril Crop.
** A closed claim without payment is a claim deemed not currently payable by the reporting insurer. The most common reasons for a closed claim without payment is not meeting the deductible, or being a claim for flood damage which is not generally covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy. Other reasons include, but are not limited to, the consumer withdrawing the claim or the insured not being reachable to adjudicate the claim. The OIR audits and examines insurer claims payments following every catastrophe to ensure claims are properly handled in compliance with Florida law and the terms of the policy.
Claims Data by County for Top 20 Counties
County
Number of Claims Reported
Number of Open Claims with Payment
Number of Open Claims without Payment
Number of Claims Closed with Payment
Number of Claims Closed without Payment**
Percent of Claims Closed
Pinellas
47095
7521
7781
18899
12894
67.5%
Hillsborough
16921
2404
3199
7111
4207
66.9%
Pasco
9590
1213
1524
3793
3060
71.5%
Manatee
8047
1385
1892
2974
1833
59.3%
Sarasota
7585
1173
1605
2974
1833
63.4%
Charlotte
5148
984
806
2125
1233
65.2%
Duval
4253
279
705
1771
1498
76.9%
Lee
3062
422
710
1182
748
63.0%
Suwannee
2498
427
468
1278
325
64.2%
Alachua
2345
323
371
930
721
70.4%
Hernando
1955
208
425
752
570
67.6%
Taylor
1722
216
465
781
260
60.5%
Citrus
1755
233
440
537
545
61.7%
Columbia
1704
258
280
803
363
68.4%
Madison
1677
275
331
889
182
63.9%
Leon
1118
104
220
467
327
71.0%
Orange
1056
58
232
399
367
72.5%
Marion
943
79
197
317
350
70.7%
Hamilton
932
128
176
511
117
67.4%
Clay
799
65
134
297
303
75.1%
All Other Counties
11778
1314
3469
4663
2332
59.4%
TOTALS
135505
19410
26209
54511
35375
66.3%
Data as of November 18, 2024.
** A closed claim without payment is a claim deemed not currently payable by the reporting insurer. The most common reasons for a closed claim without payment is not meeting the deductible, or being a claim for flood damage which is not generally covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy. Other reasons include, but are not limited to, the consumer withdrawing the claim or the insured not being reachable to adjudicate the claim. The OIR audits and examines insurer claims payments following every catastrophe to ensure claims are properly handled in compliance with Florida law and the terms of the policy.
