Following the devastation from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, far too many Florida homeowners are grappling with property insurance claim issues. Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis urges those affected to contact his office before seeking outside help for their insurance claims.

For Kris Yarborough, the aftermath of the storms has meant seeing decades of hard work and cherished memories washed away. “I don’t ever want to have to go through this again,” she told Channel 10 News Tampa Bay. “There are so many sleepless nights. I wake up at 3 o’clock in the morning and I’m making lists: ‘Who do I have to call today? Where do I have to go? Do I need to go over to the house and take care of this?’ It’s just been nonstop.”

Despite diligently paying her increasing property and flood insurance premiums each year, Yarborough is still waiting for her final claims payout while bills continue to pile up. “The contractors want money upfront,” she explained. “For each stage, you have to put money upfront.”

Insurance expert Mark Friedlander from the Insurance Information Institute reassures homeowners that Florida’s home insurance market was showing signs of stabilization before the storms, which should help in their aftermath. “Don’t be alarmed, the market is in a much better position than it’s been in many years,” he said. “It might take a little bit longer to make determinations if it was flood loss versus wind loss, but if it is covered under your home insurance policy, it will be paid. You don’t need to be concerned about claims not being paid.”

Echoing this sentiment, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis emphasized that his office is available to assist homeowners facing delays with their claims. “If you’ve got a problem with your claim, call our office,” he said. “Let us get every dollar we can for you, that is our job, and we’re very good at it. If you get to a point where you don’t like what we’re able to do for you, then we pay for mediation for free. We bring in a third-party mediator and you work it out with your insurance company.”

In addition to these efforts, Ellie’s Mental Health in St. Petersburg is offering free disaster relief support groups for all Tampa Bay residents. The next session will be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on November 25, providing much-needed support for those recovering from the storm’s impact.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Google, & X

(Image credit: Fox 13 News Tampa Bay)