June 1 is here, and with it comes the official start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Whether you’re a homeowner in Jacksonville, a commercial property owner on the First Coast, or a business with employees in the field — this is the time to pick up your policy and actually read it. Not after a storm. Now.
Pre-Season Policy Checklist
What the Forecasters Are Saying About 2026
The good news: the major forecasters are calling for a below-normal 2026 season. The primary driver is the anticipated development of El Nino conditions, which tend to increase upper-level wind shear in the Atlantic and suppress tropical development. Here is where the major outlooks landed:
| Forecaster | Named Storms | Hurricanes | Major Hurricanes (Cat 3+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOAA | 8-14 | 3-6 | 1-3 |
| Colorado State University | 13 | 6 | 2 |
| AccuWeather | 11-16 | — | — |
What Florida Policyholders Should Review Right Now
Pull out your declarations page and work through these items before the peak of the season hits in August and September.
1. Your Hurricane and Windstorm Deductible
This is the most misunderstood item on a Florida homeowners policy. Unlike your standard all-other-perils deductible (often $1,000-$2,500), your hurricane deductible is almost certainly a percentage of your dwelling coverage — typically 2% to 5%. On a home insured for $400,000, a 2% hurricane deductible means you pay the first $8,000 out of pocket before insurance kicks in. At 5%, that is $20,000. Know your number before you need it.
2. Flood Coverage — Do You Have It?
Your homeowners policy does not cover flooding. Period. Rainwater backing up from storm drains, storm surge pushing inland, and rising water from saturated ground are all flood events — and all excluded from a standard HO-3. You need a separate flood policy, either through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood carrier.
3. Dwelling Coverage — Are You Keeping Pace with Costs?
Construction costs in Florida have increased significantly over the past several years. If your dwelling limit has not been reviewed recently, there is a real chance you are underinsured. A home that cost $250,000 to rebuild three years ago may cost $300,000+ today. Make sure your dwelling limit reflects current replacement cost — not what you paid for the house.
4. Roof Coverage Terms
Florida insurers have significantly tightened roof coverage in recent years. Depending on your carrier and your roof age, you may have:
- Full replacement cost value (RCV) — carrier pays to replace the roof minus your deductible
- Actual cash value (ACV) — carrier pays replacement cost minus depreciation, which can be significant on a 15-year-old roof
- Roof exclusions or sublimits on older roofs, particularly those over 15-20 years
Know what your policy says. If your roof is aging, a pre-season inspection can help document its condition before any storm occurs.
5. Business Interruption Coverage
For business owners: if a hurricane forces you to close your doors, business interruption (BI) coverage pays for lost income and ongoing fixed expenses during the restoration period. Review your BI limit and the waiting period (typically 72 hours). Make sure the limit is tied to actual revenue — many business owners set this number low at inception and never revisit it as the business grows.
6. Workers Compensation Exposure During Cleanup
Post-storm cleanup significantly increases injury risk for employees — debris removal, rooftop work, operating equipment in compromised conditions. Contractors and property managers especially need to ensure WC coverage is in force and that any subcontractors they hire during emergency repairs carry their own certificates. A single injured worker on your cleanup crew without proper WC coverage can become your liability.
7. Personal Property and High-Value Items
Standard homeowners policies typically cover personal property at actual cash value unless you have specifically elected replacement cost. Jewelry, electronics, musical instruments, fine art, and firearms often have scheduled limits that fall well short of their actual value unless separately scheduled. Now is the time to review and update.
Have a Claims Contact Ready
After a major storm, carrier claim lines get overwhelmed within hours. Before the season gets active, save your insurance company claims number in your phone, note your policy number somewhere accessible, and take photos or video of your property in its current condition. That documentation is invaluable when a claims adjuster shows up three weeks later.
