When a hurricane moves through Pensacola, the days that follow can feel like a long list of decisions made on very little sleep. This checklist walks you through the steps that matter most, in the order they usually matter, so you can protect your family, your property, and your insurance claim. It applies whether you own a house in East Hill, a condo on Pensacola Beach, a rental in Gulf Breeze, or a business anywhere in Escambia or Santa Rosa County.
Your property can wait. Make sure it is safe before you walk the house or start cleanup.
When everyone is safe and you are ready to think about the claim, you can start a free claim review with United Claims Specialists at any point in the process.
Once it is safe, document the damage before you clean up or move anything. Good documentation is the foundation of every strong claim, and it is far easier to capture now than to reconstruct later.
This is also a good time to find your insurance policy, especially the declarations page.
Most property policies expect you to take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage. In Pensacola's heat and humidity, water damage and mold can spread quickly, so temporary protection matters.
Hold off on permanent repairs until the damage is documented and your insurance company has had a chance to inspect, unless waiting would cause more damage. Keep every receipt along the way: tarps, plywood, fans, contractor invoices, and, if you have to leave home, hotel stays, meals, and other extra living costs. Many homeowners policies include coverage for additional living expenses when a home cannot be lived in, and your receipts are how those costs get reimbursed.
If you would like a professional to look over your damage and your policy, start a free claim review with United Claims Specialists. There is no cost and no obligation.
Report the damage to your insurance company as soon as you reasonably can. Florida policies and Florida law both set time limits for reporting hurricane claims, so it is better to report early, even before you know the full extent of the damage.
If your property took on water, our flood damage insurance claims page explains how flood coverage usually works alongside wind coverage.
After you report the claim, the insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect and then issue an estimate. That estimate may be complete. It may also miss damage that is hard to see on a single inspection, such as water inside walls, damaged roof decking, building code upgrade costs, or damaged personal property.
Before you accept a payment as final or sign a release, take time to understand what the estimate includes and what it leaves out. The insurance company's adjuster works for the insurance company. A public adjuster works for you. United Claims Specialists will review your policy and the insurer's estimate at no cost, explain what we see in plain language, and tell you honestly whether we think we can help.
United Claims Specialists has handled tens of thousands of claims and has successfully negotiated and settled hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage claims over nearly two decades in business. We help homeowners, condo owners, landlords, and businesses across Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Navarre, Pace, and Cantonment.
When you work with us, we inspect and document the damage, prepare a detailed estimate, handle communication with your insurance company, and negotiate your claim on your behalf. We work on contingency, which means no recovery, no fee.
You can learn more on our Pensacola public adjuster page and our hurricane damage insurance claims page. If your roof took the worst of it, read our guide to hurricane roof and wind damage claims in Florida. If you own or manage a business, condo association, or apartment community, see our guide to commercial and condo hurricane claims on the Gulf Coast.
Related reading: Hurricane Roof and Wind Damage Claims in Florida · Commercial and Condo Hurricane Claims on the Gulf Coast · How to File a Hurricane Damage Insurance Claim
Make temporary repairs that prevent further damage, such as tarping the roof, boarding windows, and drying out wet areas, and keep the receipts. Hold off on permanent repairs until the damage has been documented and the insurance company has had a chance to inspect, unless waiting would make the damage worse.
Gather any photos or videos you have, including older photos that show the items before the storm, along with receipts, bank records, or online order history. A detailed list of what was lost still matters.
Standard homeowners policies usually cover wind damage and exclude flooding from storm surge or rising water. Flood damage is usually covered under a separate flood policy. Many Pensacola properties have both kinds of damage, and each policy may need its own claim.
Yes. We review your policy and your insurer's estimate at no cost and with no obligation. If we take on your claim, we work on contingency, so there is no fee unless there is a recovery.
Talk to United Claims Specialists about your Pensacola claim. Call (855) 321-5677, or start a free claim review with the form on this page.