HURRICANE CLAIMS · FLORIDA

Lehigh Acres Hurricane Insurance Claims: Questions and Answers

By Nelson Avila, Licensed Florida Public Adjuster (License G332385) · Florida Certified Contractor
Homeland Public Adjusters · Last reviewed: October 2026

Metal roof panels peeled back by hurricane winds in Lehigh Acres, Florida

Wind that lifts one edge of a metal roof can open the whole panel run. Document every section before repairs.

Short answer: Since 1851, 18 hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Lehigh Acres, most recently Ian in 2022 and Irma in 2017. For a new hurricane loss in Florida, notice of the claim has to be given within 1 year after the date of loss, so the first call matters: call Homeland first, before you talk to the insurer.

Lehigh Acres’ hurricane record

According to the National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 records, 58 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Lehigh Acres since 1851. 18 of them were hurricanes at their closest point, and 7 were major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger).

Ian (September 28, 2022): passed about 26 miles from Lehigh Acres as a Category 4 hurricane.
Irma (September 10, 2017): crossed within about 4 miles of Lehigh Acres as a Category 2 hurricane.
Wilma (October 24, 2005): passed about 43 miles away as a Category 3 hurricane.
Charley (August 13, 2004): passed about 33 miles away as a Category 4 hurricane.

Lee County has been included in federal major disaster declarations (FEMA disaster declarations) for 15 hurricanes: Betsy (1965), Gladys (1968), Opal (1995), Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne (2004), Wilma (2005), Irma (2017), Ian and Nicole (2022), Idalia (2023), and Debby, Helene and Milton (2024). See the full storm map on our Lehigh Acres public adjusters page.

Your questions, answered

How long do I have to report hurricane damage in Florida?

For a new or reopened claim, notice has to be given within 1 year after the date of loss; a supplemental claim, within 18 months (Fla. Stat. §627.70132). A lawsuit on a claim noticed on time can be filed within 5 years after the date of loss (Fla. Stat. §95.11). For a hurricane, the date of loss is the date it made landfall. See where each recent storm stands on our storm claim deadlines page.

Can I still file a claim for Hurricane Milton?

Not a new one. Milton made landfall on October 9, 2024, so the deadline for a new claim passed on October 9, 2025 and for a supplemental claim on April 9, 2026. A Milton claim that was noticed on time can still be disputed, and a lawsuit on it can be filed until October 9, 2029.

How fast does the insurer have to respond?

In Florida, the insurer must acknowledge your claim within 7 days and pay or deny it in writing within 60 days after notice of the claim (Fla. Stat. §627.70131).

How does my hurricane deductible work?

Florida insurers must offer hurricane deductibles of $500, 2%, 5% and 10% of the dwelling limit, and the hurricane deductible applies once per calendar year (Fla. Stat. §627.701). On a $300,000 dwelling limit, a 2% deductible is $6,000. Try the calculator in What Is a Hurricane Deductible?

Does my homeowners policy pay for flooding from the storm?

Usually not. Flood damage is excluded from most standard homeowners policies, so rising water is a claim on a flood policy (NFIP or private). When a storm brings both wind and water, the two get split between policies; see The Insurer Says It Was Flood, Not Wind.

Will the insurer replace my whole roof or just patch it?

It depends on the damage and the roof. Under Fla. Stat. §553.844(5), when 25% or more of a roof or roof section is being repaired, replaced or recovered, only that part has to meet current code if the existing roof was built to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later. See Florida Roof Repair: Partial Replacement and the Code.

What can a public adjuster charge on a hurricane claim?

Florida caps public adjuster fees by statute: 10% on claims from a declared state of emergency made within one year after the declaration, and 20% otherwise (Fla. Stat. §626.854(11)). See Public Adjuster Fees in Florida and New Jersey.

What if we can't agree on the amount?

Florida’s state mediation program handles residential disputes of $500 or more, and the insurer pays the mediator (Fla. Stat. §627.7015). Appraisal under your policy is another route.

Frequently asked questions

Is my Lehigh Acres home in a flood zone?

Check your property on FEMA’s flood map. Our guides explain what the zones mean: Flood Zones Explained, Flood Zone AE and Flood Zone X.

Does Homeland handle claims in Lehigh Acres?

Yes. We handle hurricane, wind, water and fire claims across Lee County, in English or Spanish, 24/7. Hablamos español.

Call Homeland first. Before you answer the insurer, sign anything or accept a final number, call us 24/7 at (305) 783-3777 in Florida or (732) 517-3777 in New Jersey. We read the letter against your policy, document the loss and present the claim for you. Hablamos español.

This article is for general information only and is not legal or insurance advice. Statutes, regulations and policy wording change, and how they apply depends on your own policy and the facts of your claim. Homeland Public Adjusters is a public adjusting firm, not a law firm.

More by Nelson Avila

All 97 articles by Nelson Avila →

Other Homeland authors