After the hurricane: water damage first steps

What you photograph in the first hour back decides which policy pays — and after a named storm, that's usually a bigger number than anything else about the claim.

Short answer

Don't re-enter until authorities clear the area. When you do: photograph the roof and the water line before touching anything. Whether water came in from above (wind) or up from the ground (flood) determines which policy responds, and only one of them is your homeowners policy.

Before you go back in

Wait for official clearance. Downed lines, gas leaks and structural damage aren't always visible.
Treat standing water as electrified until proven otherwise. Kill power at the panel only if you can reach it without standing in water — otherwise call the utility.
Assume floodwater is contaminated. Storm surge and river water carry sewage and chemicals; it's Category 3 in restoration terms, which means boots, gloves and no bare skin.
Don't run the HVAC if there's any chance ducts took on water or debris.

The documentation that decides your claim

After a hurricane, the argument is almost never whether you're covered — it's which policy covers you. Wind-driven rain entering through a wind-created opening is a homeowners claim. Storm surge and rising water is a flood claim, on a separate policy. Two identical houses on one street can get opposite answers.

Your photographs are the evidence that settles it, and the window to take them is before cleanup starts.

Photograph the roof and exterior first

Missing shingles, lifted decking, broken windows, impact damage. This is what establishes a wind-created opening — the single most valuable photo set you can take.

Capture the water line inside

Photograph how high the water reached on walls and furniture, with something for scale. A consistent horizontal line low on the walls indicates rising water; damage from above indicates a roof breach.

Wide shots, then close-ups, room by room

Wide for context, close for detail, and a narrated video walkthrough. Do it before moving a single item.

Inventory contents before disposal

Photograph damaged belongings with model numbers where you can. Health may require you to remove contaminated soft furnishings quickly — document them first.

File both claims if you have both policies

If you carry flood cover and there's any ambiguity, notify both carriers. They will apportion between themselves; failing to file with one is harder to fix later.

Check which deductible applies before you agree to anything

Named-storm and hurricane deductibles are usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage — commonly 2–5% — rather than the flat figure you'd pay for a burst pipe. On a $300,000 home that can mean $6,000–$15,000 before the policy responds at all. Coastal states apply these routinely, and it changes whether a claim is even worth filing.

Mitigation, without harming your claim

Your policy requires you to prevent further damage — but you also need the evidence intact. Both are achievable in this order:

Document first, always. Ten minutes of photographs before anything moves.
Then extract water and start drying. In storm-season humidity, mold can begin within 24 to 48 hours.
Remove wet porous materials — carpet, pad, insulation — but photograph them and keep a record of what was removed and why.
Board up and tarp openings to stop further rain entering. Keep receipts; emergency mitigation is typically reimbursable.
Keep every receipt for hotels, meals and supplies. Additional living expenses coverage exists for exactly this and is routinely under-claimed.

Be careful who knocks on your door

After every major storm, out-of-state operators arrive in force — take a deposit, do partial work, and leave before the rebuild. Ask for a local address and licence number, refuse large up-front deposits, and be cautious with anyone asking you to sign over your insurance benefits. Several states have restricted assignment-of-benefits agreements precisely because of post-storm abuse. Every crew ranked on this site has an established local review history, which is the simplest filter there is.

Common questions

Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane water damage?

It depends how the water got in. Wind-driven rain entering through a wind-created opening — a roof breach, a broken window — is typically a covered homeowners loss. Storm surge and rising water is flood, excluded from homeowners policies and covered only by separate flood insurance.

What is a hurricane deductible?

A separate, usually percentage-based deductible that applies to named-storm damage — commonly 2–5% of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat amount. On a $300,000 home that can be $6,000–$15,000. Coastal states apply these routinely, so check which deductible applies before assuming a claim is worthwhile.

Should I file with both my homeowners and flood insurer?

If you carry both and the cause is at all ambiguous, yes. The carriers will apportion the loss between themselves. Failing to notify one within its deadline is much harder to remedy later than filing and being redirected.

How soon should I start cleaning up after a hurricane?

Photograph everything first, then start immediately. Mold can begin within 24 to 48 hours, and in storm-season humidity it moves fast. Your policy also obliges you to prevent further damage — so document, then mitigate, in that order.

Is floodwater dangerous to touch?

Treat it as contaminated. Storm surge and river water routinely carry sewage, fuel and chemicals — Category 3 in restoration terms. Wear boots and gloves, keep skin covered, and don't attempt to salvage contaminated porous materials like carpet and mattresses.

General information, not legal or insurance advice. Coverage depends on your specific policy, endorsements and circumstances, and insurance rules vary by state and change over time. Read your policy and confirm details with your insurer, a licensed agent, or your state insurance department. We are a directory of independent contractors — we do not sell insurance or adjust claims.