Storm damage repair steps for a Florida home

The steps in order

Storm repair goes in this order: make sure the house is safe to enter, report the loss to your insurer, dry everything out, get permits before repairs start, then rebuild. Each step below says what the official sources say and where to check for your own address.

1. Safety first. Get a safety inspection before you go back into a damaged structure.
2. Tell your insurer. Report the loss and ask what they need from you.
3. Dry it out. Water-damaged areas and items should be dry within 24 to 48 hours.
4. Permits. Get the permit before repairs start, not after.
5. Rebuild. Drywall, framing, finish work, paint, with plumbing and electrical done by licensed trades.

Step 1 and 2: safety and your insurer

Manatee County's post-storm guidance, dated February 12, 2025, tells owners to get safety inspections before entering damaged structures. That page may have been updated since, so check the county's current version.

Then call your insurer. Florida law (Section 627.70132) gives you notice deadlines: 1 year from the date of loss for an initial or reopened claim, and 18 months for a supplemental claim. Under Section 627.70131, the insurer must acknowledge your claim communication within 7 calendar days. We cover the deadlines in more detail in our guide on the hurricane claim deadline.

If you have a flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program, the county says the Proof of Loss must be submitted within 60 days.

If your insurer is not acting, the Florida Department of Financial Services runs an Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1.877.693.5236. You can file a complaint, and the Department advocates for you at no charge, according to its website.

Step 3: drying comes before rebuilding

EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours. FEMA's mold fact sheet says items that cannot be properly cleaned and dried in that time must be discarded. For drywall and insulation that touched floodwater, FEMA's guidance is blunt: remove all of it.

That is why rebuilding does not start with new drywall. The wet material has to come out and the framing has to dry first. We explain what comes out and what can stay in our guide on water-damaged drywall, and what to do when you see mold in our guide on mold after water damage.

Step 4: permits before repairs

The county's post-storm guidance says to obtain permits before starting repairs. A few points from that page:

• If your home is in a flood zone, a Substantial Damage Review is required. The county defines substantial damage as repair costs that equal or exceed 50 percent of the building's market value. See our guide on the substantial improvement rule.
• Drywall repair outside a flood zone may not need a permit. The scope of work decides.
• The permit fee waivers the county offered after earlier storms have expired. The waiver for interior water-damage repair ran only through December 31, 2024.

Manatee County Building and Permitting is at 941-748-4501 ext. 3800. If your home is inside the city limits of Bradenton or Palmetto, those cities run their own permitting. See Palmetto and Bradenton.

Who does what: you, your insurer and your contractor

Your claim is between you and your insurer. Florida law is clear that a licensed contractor, or its subcontractor, may not advertise, solicit, offer to handle, handle or perform public adjuster services unless also licensed as a public adjuster (Section 626.854(16)). A contractor may suggest you contact your insurer about coverage, and may explain a repair bid.

Also, for residential policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, Section 627.7152(13) says a policyholder may not assign any post-loss insurance benefit. An attempted assignment is void. Our guide on assignment of benefits has the detail, and the guide on hiring a contractor after a hurricane covers how to vet one.

How Hildebrand handles storm repair

Hildebrand does home restoration after storm or other damage: drywall, framing and finish work. We document the damage and coordinate the construction scope with your insurance adjuster, then rebuild to code. We do not negotiate your claim. That stays between you and your insurer.

We pull every required permit and meet Florida Building Code inspections. Plumbing and electrical are done by licensed trade partners we manage and coordinate, all under one licensed contractor. The price does not change without your written approval. See how our process works.

One honest note: we are open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and we do not offer emergency or after-hours service. Calls and forms outside those hours are answered the next business day. If you are in danger, call 911. For your claim, your insurer's claim line is the fastest first call.

Questions homeowners ask