Recovery guide · updated Oct 2026
After the hurricane: the recovery sequence
The order matters. Do these steps in sequence and you protect both your safety and your insurance payout. Skip the order and you give adjusters reasons to pay less.
Step 1: Stay safe (first 24 hours)
- Wait for the official all-clear — most injuries happen after the storm (chainsaws, ladders, floodwater).
- Assume all downed lines are live. Stay out of floodwater — it hides debris, sewage, and electrical hazards.
- Don't run generators indoors or in garages. Ever.
Step 2: Document everything (before you clean up)
- Photograph/video every room, roof, and exterior — before moving anything. This is your evidence.
- Make a room-by-room list of damaged items with approximate values.
- Save receipts for every emergency expense (hotel, tarps, repairs) — most policies reimburse them.
Step 3: Mitigate further damage
- Tarp the roof, board broken windows, shut off water to leaking areas. Insurers require you to prevent further damage — and reimburse reasonable temporary repairs.
- Don't start permanent repairs until the adjuster has inspected.
Step 4: File insurance — then FEMA
- File your homeowners claim first. Record the claim number and adjuster contact.
- Then apply for FEMA assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362 — FEMA supplements insurance, it doesn't replace it. You'll need your insurance settlement or denial letter for some FEMA aid.
- Standard homeowners policies don't cover flood — that's separate NFIP flood insurance. Know which policy covers which damage before the adjuster arrives.
Step 5: Hire help without getting scammed
- Storm-chasing contractors flood in after every hurricane. Get 3 written estimates, verify the license with your state board, and never pay more than 10–30% upfront.
- Roofers: ask for local references and proof of insurance. The cheapest bid after a storm is often the one that disappears.
- Public adjusters take ~10% of your payout — consider one only if your claim is large and disputed.
Common questions
Partially. FEMA's Individuals and Households Program can help with essential home repairs to make a home safe and livable — but it's capped, it supplements insurance, and cosmetic damage isn't covered. File insurance first.
Deadlines vary by state and policy — often 1–2 years — but file immediately. Early filing means an earlier adjuster visit, and documentation is freshest now.
Temporary repairs: yes, and keep receipts. Permanent repairs: wait until after the adjuster documents the damage, or you risk the insurer disputing what was there.