Hurricane Isaias: claim records and dates to know
Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on October 9, 2026. If your home or belongings were damaged in Florida, Alabama or Georgia, these are the records to keep and the dates to write down while your claim is open.
Published by PoshJosh LLC · Last updated October 18, 2026
Dates to write down
These come from Florida law and the federal flood insurance program. They are outer limits: most policies also ask you to report damage promptly, and your insurer’s letters can set other dates, such as an inspection or a proof of loss form. Write those down too.
| Last day | What it is |
|---|---|
| About 60 days after your loss (early December 2026) | Send a flood insurance (NFIP) proof of loss. NFIP flood policies ask for a signed proof of loss within 60 days of the loss, unless FEMA extends it after a large storm. Check the date with your flood insurer. (FEMA) |
| March 1, 2027 | Apply for a Florida property tax refund. If you own your home and it couldn’t be lived in for at least 30 days, you can apply to your county property appraiser for a partial refund of 2026 property taxes, on the form the appraiser provides (DR-465). Your property appraiser decides. (Fla. Stat. 197.319) |
| October 9, 2027 | Report a new claim, or reopen a closed one, in Florida. Florida law sets 1 year after the date of loss as the outer limit, and for a hurricane the date of loss is the day it made landfall. This applies to homeowners and windstorm policies, not NFIP flood policies. (Fla. Stat. 627.70132) |
| April 9, 2028 | Report a supplemental claim in Florida, for example damage that turns up later or repairs that cost more than the first payment. Florida law sets 18 months after the date of loss as the outer limit, for homeowners and windstorm policies, not NFIP flood policies. (Fla. Stat. 627.70132) |
Alabama and Georgia set their own rules. The Alabama Department of Insurance asks people to contact their agent or insurance company as soon as possible.
Records to keep
- Photos and video of every room and the outside before you clean up, including the water line if water came in. The storm damage checklist walks through it.
- Photos of damaged belongings before they’re thrown out, with brand and model labels, and a list as you go. See the damaged property inventory guide.
- Receipts for tarps, boarding up, water removal, hotels and meals while you can’t live at home. See tracking claim expenses and receipts.
- Your claim numbers, policy numbers and adjusters’ names. Some homes have more than one claim from the same storm, such as homeowners and flood.
- A log of every call: the date, who you spoke to, what was said and anything promised.
- The dates you moved out and moved back in, if you couldn’t stay at home. They matter for the Florida tax refund above and for living-expense receipts.
- Every letter and email from your insurer, with any dates they give you.
Keeping it all in one place
Paper folders and your phone’s camera are enough to follow this guide. Claim Binder (now in beta testing on iPhone and iPad) keeps your photos, receipts, claims and these dates together on your iPhone or iPad, even without electricity or cell signal. Beta testing starts soon; to try it early, email support@poshjoshllc.com.
Where to get guidance
Your state’s insurance department explains how claims work and answers questions for free.
- Florida: Florida Department of Financial Services, Insurance Consumer Helpline 1-877-693-5236
- Alabama: Alabama Department of Insurance: Hurricane Isaias, Consumer Services (800) 433-3966
- Georgia: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, Consumer Services (800) 656-2298
- Other states: Find your state’s insurance department
This guide is about keeping records and dates. It isn’t legal or insurance advice. Your policy and your insurer decide what’s covered and how much is paid, and the dates that apply to you can differ; check them with your insurer or your state’s insurance department.