Satellite precipitation map of Hurricane Helene over the Gulf of Mexico approaching Florida’s Big Bend on September 26, 2024

BIG BEND & GULF COAST · HURRICANE HELENE

Hurricane Helene Insurance Claims: Help With Open, Denied and Underpaid Claims

For property owners from the Big Bend to Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus whose Helene wind or surge claim is still unresolved.

Short answer: the deadlines to file a new or supplemental Hurricane Helene claim in Florida have passed. If you gave notice in time and your claim is still open, underpaid or closed without payment, Florida allows a lawsuit on a timely claim for 5 years from the date of loss, until September 26, 2029, and disputes over the amount can go to appraisal or mediation. Homeland reviews your Helene file for free. Call (727) 390-3777, 24/7. No Recovery, No Fee.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Review My Claim Tampa Bay (727) 390-3777

What Happened

Hurricane Helene made landfall about 10 nautical miles southwest of Perry, in Taylor County, at about 11:10 PM EDT on September 26, 2024, as a Category 4 hurricane. Storm surge was the worst in the Big Bend, 12 to 16 feet in Taylor County, where about 80% of buildings in Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee were destroyed, and surge flooding reached Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas counties. Major disaster declaration FEMA-4828-DR was approved on September 28, 2024.

Helene Claims by the Numbers

As of June 10, 2025, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) reported:

Measure	Hurricane Helene
Claims filed (all lines)	155,182
Residential property claims	72,037
Closed with payment	93,451
Closed without payment	50,138
Residential: closed without payment / with payment	37,951 / 29,315
Still open	11,593
Estimated insured losses	$2,584,892,782

More residential Helene claims closed without payment than with it. Surge is flood, which a homeowners policy excludes; see when the insurer says it was flood, not wind.

Sources: National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Helene · FEMA-4828-DR · Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, data as of Jun 10, 2025

Helene Deadlines in Florida

Step	Deadline	Status
Notice of a new or reopened claim (1 year after landfall)	September 26, 2025	Passed
Notice of a supplemental claim (18 months after landfall)	March 26, 2026	Passed
Lawsuit on a timely-noticed claim (5 years from the date of loss)	September 26, 2029	Open
Flood insurance (NFIP) lawsuit	1 year after the written denial	Depends on your denial date

How the dates are set. For a hurricane, Florida law sets the date of loss as the date of landfall. Helene came ashore late on September 26, 2024 (Eastern time). Notice of a new or reopened claim was due within 1 year after that date, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. A lawsuit for breach of a property insurance contract must be filed within 5 years from the date of loss, on a timely claim. Under the federal flood policy, a lawsuit must start within one year after the date of the written denial of all or part of the claim.

Sources: Section 627.70132, Florida Statutes · Section 95.11(2)(e), Florida Statutes · Standard Flood Insurance Policy, 44 CFR Part 61, Art. VII.O

What You Can Still Do About a Helene Claim

Wind and surge on the same house? Wind belongs to the homeowners policy and surge to the flood policy; we document each part on its own

Claim still open? We step in, document what the insurer left out, and negotiate the full amount

Paid too little? A dispute over the amount may go to appraisal, if your policy has it, or to Florida’s free DFS mediation program

Closed without payment or denied? We review the letter, the policy and the estimate, and tell you plainly whether there is something to pursue

Thinking about a lawsuit? The 5-year window on a timely homeowners claim runs to September 26, 2029; check your flood denial date separately

Upload your denial letter, estimate or policy to Review My Claim for a free first read. See flood damage claims and every option after a denial or low offer.

Hurricane Helene Claim FAQs

Can I still file a Hurricane Helene claim?

Not a new one. Notice of a new or reopened claim was due by September 26, 2025, and a supplemental claim by March 26, 2026 (Section 627.70132, Florida Statutes). A claim noticed on time can still be negotiated, taken to appraisal or mediation, or taken to court until September 26, 2029.

My insurer says the damage was storm surge. What now?

Storm surge is flood, which homeowners policies exclude. But wind damage, such as roof openings and ceiling damage above the water line, is a separate homeowners claim. We document each part separately.

How long do I have to sue over a Helene flood claim?

Under the Standard Flood Insurance Policy, a lawsuit must start within one year after the date of the written denial of all or part of the claim. Check the date on your denial letter.

What does it cost?

Nothing up front. We work on a No Recovery, No Fee basis, and Florida law caps public adjuster fees. See public adjuster fees.

General information, not legal advice. Deadlines depend on your policy and the facts of your claim; for a lawsuit deadline, talk to an attorney. Homeland Public Adjusters is a public adjusting firm, not a law firm.

Every storm’s claim deadlines Hurricane Milton claims Flood damage claims Denied and underpaid claims

Helene claim? Tampa Bay line

Call (727) 390-3777, 24/7

In New Jersey

Call (732) 517-3777, 24/7

Talk to a Public Adjuster

How Can We Help You Recover?

Have photos? Start My Claim →Denied or underpaid? Review My Claim →What does my policy cover? Scan My Policy →

Tell us about your loss. We’ll call you back.

Claims We Handle

Hurricane & Wind Damage→Flood Damage→Fire Damage→Water Damage→Winter Storm & Roof Damage→Theft & Vandalism Damage→Vehicle Impact Damage→Business & Commercial→Other Claims→Denied & Underpaid→

FREE MEMBERSHIP

Get the Adjuster Advantage™ App

Get the App

Board or manager? AA Associations →

Property Damage Claims We Handle

Homeowners, condo associations, landlords and businesses bring us these claims across Florida and New Jersey.

Hurricane & Wind Damage Claims Water Damage Claims Fire & Smoke Damage Claims Flood Damage Claims Denied & Underpaid Claims Condo & HOA Association Claims Business & Commercial Claims

How Can We Help You Recover?

Have a Property Damage Claim?

Upload your photos, the insurer’s estimate or a denial letter. A licensed public adjuster reviews it for free and calls you back right away. No Recovery, No Fee.

Start My Claim →Review My Claim →Scan My Policy →

Or call 24/7: (305) 783-3777 Florida · (732) 517-3777 New Jersey. Hablamos español.