The best time to prepare for a hurricane claim is before the hurricane. Once a storm hits, you’re dealing with chaos, damage, and an insurance company that’s flooded with calls. Your ability to recover depends on the work you do right now, while the sun is still shining.
We’ve handled hurricane claims across Virginia, the Carolinas, and beyond. The policyholders who recover fastest and receive the most complete settlements all have one thing in common: they documented their property before the storm arrived.
Here’s exactly how to do that.
Build a Home Inventory
A home inventory is a room-by-room list of everything you own. Furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, tools, artwork, and anything else of value. It sounds tedious. It is. But after a hurricane destroys half your belongings, trying to remember what you owned from memory is worse.
How to Create Your Inventory
Go room by room. Start in one corner and work your way around. Open every closet, every drawer, every cabinet. List everything.
Record key details. For each item, note the brand, model, approximate purchase date, and estimated value. Serial numbers matter for electronics and appliances.
Keep receipts. If you have purchase receipts, store digital copies. Your email inbox is a good source for online purchases. Credit card statements can help fill gaps.
Use an app or spreadsheet. A simple spreadsheet works fine. Some insurance companies offer free inventory apps. The format doesn’t matter as long as the information is complete and accessible.
Update it annually. A home inventory from five years ago won’t include the new appliances, furniture, or renovations you’ve added since. Set a calendar reminder to update it before each hurricane season.
Photo and Video Documentation
Your inventory list tells the insurance company what you owned. Photos and video prove it.
Photograph Everything
Walk through every room and photograph it from multiple angles. Capture wide shots that show the full room and close-ups of valuable items. Don’t skip garages, attics, sheds, and outdoor structures.
Pay special attention to:
- Roofing and exterior walls. Photograph your roof from the ground (multiple angles) and any visible exterior features. After a storm, the insurance company needs a baseline to compare against.
- Major systems. HVAC units, water heaters, electrical panels. These are expensive to replace and easy to overlook in an inventory.
- Recent improvements. New flooring, kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation. These add value to your claim but only if you can prove they existed before the storm.
- Landscaping and fencing. Trees, fences, retaining walls, and outdoor living spaces are covered under many policies. Document them.
Shoot a Video Walkthrough
A slow, narrated video walkthrough captures details that photos miss. Walk through your entire property, inside and out, while describing what you see. Open closets and cabinets on camera. Point out brands and model numbers. This takes 20 to 30 minutes and creates a powerful record.
Store Documentation Off-Site
This part is critical. If a hurricane destroys your house, it destroys anything stored inside it. Your documentation needs to survive the same storm your property doesn’t.
Upload everything to cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox). Email copies to a trusted family member. Store a USB drive at your office or in a safe deposit box. Redundancy protects you.
Review Your Insurance Policy Before Storm Season
Don’t wait until after a hurricane to read your policy for the first time. Review it now and understand these key points:
Wind vs. Flood Coverage
Standard homeowners insurance covers wind damage. It does not cover flood damage. These are separate policies, and the distinction matters more than most people realize. Read our guide on flood damage vs. water damage for a full breakdown. If you live in a hurricane-prone area and don’t have flood insurance, you have a major gap in coverage.
Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private carriers. There’s typically a 30-day waiting period before a new flood policy takes effect. Don’t wait until a storm is in the forecast.
Your Deductible
Many policies in hurricane-prone areas have a separate wind or hurricane deductible. This is often a percentage of your dwelling coverage (typically 1% to 5%), not a flat dollar amount. On a $400,000 home, a 2% hurricane deductible means $8,000 out of pocket before insurance pays anything.
Know your deductible before the storm so you can plan your finances accordingly.
Additional Living Expenses
If your home is uninhabitable after a hurricane, your policy likely covers additional living expenses (ALE). This includes hotel costs, meals, and other reasonable expenses while your home is being repaired. Know your coverage limit and keep every receipt.
Coverage Limits
Check your dwelling coverage, personal property coverage, and any sub-limits for specific categories (like electronics or jewelry). Make sure your coverage reflects your home’s current replacement cost, not what you paid for it 15 years ago.
What to Do Immediately After a Hurricane
When the storm passes and it’s safe to assess the situation, move fast but stay organized.
1. Ensure Safety First
Do not enter your home if there’s structural damage, standing water with potential electrical hazards, or gas leaks. Contact emergency services if needed.
2. Document the Damage Before Touching Anything
Before you clean up, board up, or move debris, photograph and video everything. Every room, every angle, every damaged item. This is your evidence. Without it, you’re relying on the insurance company’s assessment alone.
3. Make Emergency Repairs Only
Your policy requires you to prevent further damage. Tarp the roof. Board broken windows. Extract standing water. Keep every receipt. These temporary repair costs are typically reimbursable.
Do not begin permanent repairs until the insurance company has inspected your property.
4. Report Your Claim Immediately
Call your insurance company as soon as possible. After a major hurricane, claim volume explodes. The sooner you report, the sooner an adjuster gets assigned.
5. Keep a Claim Journal
Write down every phone call, every email, every conversation with your insurance company. Note the date, time, person’s name, and what was discussed. This log becomes invaluable if disputes arise later.
6. Contact a Public Adjuster
After a hurricane, insurance companies deploy hundreds of adjusters to process claims as quickly as possible. Speed and thoroughness don’t always go together. A public adjuster inspects your property independently, documents damage the insurance adjuster may miss, and negotiates your settlement to reflect the full scope of the loss.
At Hughes & Associates, we specialize in hurricane damage claims and work with policyholders across Virginia, the Carolinas, and six other states. We handle the entire claims process so you can focus on your family and getting your life back on track. If fire is also involved, see our guide on what to do after a house fire.
Start Now, Not Later
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. The preparation checklist is straightforward:
- Build or update your home inventory
- Photograph and video your entire property
- Store copies in the cloud and off-site
- Review your insurance policy
- Confirm you have flood coverage if you need it
- Know your deductibles and coverage limits
None of this takes more than a weekend. All of it makes a measurable difference if a storm hits.
If you have questions about your coverage, your documentation, or how the claims process works after a hurricane, contact Hughes & Associates. We’re here to help before, during, and after the storm.