OIR Hurricane Helene Information

 
Hurricane Helene
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 This mandate remains in effect until the Governor’s Executive Order is rescinded or expires.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.

This order amends and supersedes  Emergency Order 400385-24 . A copy of the order is available  here.

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: $2,078,754,927 

OIR required insurers report estimated and paid losses. Estimated or case incurred losses include indemnity case reserves and payments to date.

Data as of December 16, 2024

Lines of BusinessNumber of Claims ReportedNumber of Open Claims with PaymentNumber of Open Claims w/o PaymentNumber of Claims Closed with PaymentNumber of Claims Closed w/o Payment**Percent of Claims ClosedTotal Incurred LossClaims Closed without Payment due to Non-Covered Flood DamageClaims without Payment -All Other ReasonsClaims Closed without Payment due to Damage Below deductible
Residential Property63,1954,0425,79719,78533,57184.4%$496,780,621  9,69114,4159,465
Homeowners49,9793,0504,43414,34028,15585.0%$343,013,8458,34212,1727,641
Dwelling6,0913516571,5573,52683.5%$39,641,8428631,3411,322
Mobile Homeowners6,3916163573,7331,66584.8%$58,338,513459797409
Commercial Residential7342534913522549.0%$55,786,4212710593

Commercial Property

6,0002084,2844531,05525.1%$403,827,838233603219
Private Flood4,3631,3562,19562918318.6%$211,095,229916014
Business Interruption1131349302145.1%$6,273,3852172
Commercial Auto1,58626029584418765.5%.2813920
Private Passenger59,4657,8343,53243,4724,62780.9%.6083,615370
TOTALS140,27314,192

18,032

67,03267,66877.0%$2,078,754,927
10,62619,40410,316

*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

CountyNumber of Claims ReportedNumber of Open Claims with PaymentNumber of Open Claims without PaymentNumber of Claims Closed with PaymentNumber of Claims Closed without Payment**Percent of Claims Closed
Pinellas4803848664492240191466180.5%
Hillsborough17515177523998629471276.2%
Pasco995981610274684343281.5%
Manatee836892312593682250473.9%
Sarasota803578110444016219477.3%
Charlotte

5245

5744822814137579.9%
Duval47853088761974162775.3%
Lee3251287536156286674.7%
Suwannee2543435226149738574.0%
Alachua2400284220109879879.0%
Hernando200515827189967778.6%
Taylor176722922395236374.4%
Citrus180818229368864573.7%
Columbia175525417192340775.8%
Madison170628318712321372.5%
Leon118111014453938878.5%
Orange12025328744841471.7%
Marion96810512335738376.4%
Hamilton9421448757413775.5%
Clay10676432334933163.7%
All Other Counties11967124027345275271866.8%
TOTALS1402731419218032676684038177.0%

Data as of December 16, 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.