For Florida homeowners with windstorm or hurricane coverage, a hurricane-related roof claim may carry a separate deductible. The Florida Department of Financial Services’ standing consumer guidance explains how that deductible works and why reporting damage matters even when an insurance payment is not expected.

The deductible period begins when the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for any part of Florida for a storm it has declared a hurricane. It ends 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or warning for any part of the state is terminated. When a hurricane deductible applies, another deductible under the policy cannot be added to it.

A percentage-based hurricane deductible is calculated using the policy’s dwelling or structure coverage limit, not the roof repair bill. The guidance says the deductible must also be shown as a dollar amount. Available deductible options have exceptions based on insured value, so homeowners should check their own policy rather than assume every option is available.

For personal residential policies, the hurricane deductible generally applies on a calendar-year basis to covered hurricane losses when coverage stays with the same insurer or another insurer in the same group. If a later hurricane causes damage that year, the applicable deductible is the greater of the remaining hurricane deductible or the policy’s All Other Peril deductible. Once the annual hurricane deductible has been fully met, the All Other Peril deductible applies to subsequent hurricane windstorm claims that year.

Changing to an insurer outside the original insurer’s group can change that result. The guidance says the full hurricane deductible applies to a second claim with the new insurer, without credit for the earlier deductible.

The department advises policyholders to file hurricane windstorm claims even when repair costs fall below the hurricane deductible. Reporting creates a record of losses that may count toward the annual deductible. It also allows hidden damage discovered during repairs to be added through a supplemental claim; delayed reporting can cause delays or even denial.

Homeowners should also check whether their policy comes from a surplus lines insurer, whose deductibles may differ from those described in the guidance. Reading the policy and asking an agent to clarify its deductible provisions can help homeowners understand their potential share of a covered roof loss.