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 This mandate remains in effect until the Governor’s Executive Order is rescinded or expires.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:$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 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
63,195
4,042
5,797
19,785
33,571
84.4%
$496,780,621
9,691
14,415
9,465
Homeowners
49,979
3,050
4,434
14,340
28,155
85.0%
$343,013,845
8,342
12,172
7,641
Dwelling
6,091
351
657
1,557
3,526
83.5%
$39,641,842
863
1,341
1,322
Mobile Homeowners
6,391
616
357
3,733
1,665
84.8%
$58,338,513
459
797
409
Commercial Residential
734
25
349
135
225
49.0%
$55,786,421
27
105
93
Commercial Property
6,000
208
4,284
453
1,055
25.1%
$403,827,838
233
603
219
Private Flood
4,363
1,356
2,195
629
183
18.6%
$211,095,229
9
160
14
Business Interruption
113
13
49
30
21
45.1%
$6,273,385
2
17
2
Commercial Auto
1,586
260
295
844
187
65.5%
.
28
139
20
Private Passenger
59,465
7,834
3,532
43,472
4,627
80.9%
.
608
3,615
370
TOTALS
140,273
14,192
18,032
67,032
67,668
77.0%
$2,078,754,927
10,626
19,404
10,316
*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
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
48038
4866
4492
24019
14661
80.5%
Hillsborough
17515
1775
2399
8629
4712
76.2%
Pasco
9959
816
1027
4684
3432
81.5%
Manatee
8368
923
1259
3682
2504
73.9%
Sarasota
8035
781
1044
4016
2194
77.3%
Charlotte
5245
574
482
2814
1375
79.9%
Duval
4785
308
876
1974
1627
75.3%
Lee
3251
287
536
1562
866
74.7%
Suwannee
2543
435
226
1497
385
74.0%
Alachua
2400
284
220
1098
798
79.0%
Hernando
2005
158
271
899
677
78.6%
Taylor
1767
229
223
952
363
74.4%
Citrus
1808
182
293
688
645
73.7%
Columbia
1755
254
171
923
407
75.8%
Madison
1706
283
187
123
213
72.5%
Leon
1181
110
144
539
388
78.5%
Orange
1202
53
287
448
414
71.7%
Marion
968
105
123
357
383
76.4%
Hamilton
942
144
87
574
137
75.5%
Clay
1067
64
323
349
331
63.7%
All Other Counties
11967
1240
2734
5275
2718
66.8%
TOTALS
140273
14192
18032
67668
40381
77.0%
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.