Florida Public Adjuster

Florida is the hardest property-insurance market in the country: hurricane losses, roof-claim disputes, and insurers that scrutinize every claim. Policyholders here need an advocate more than anywhere. UPA represents Florida property owners across all of it — never the insurance company.

Florida’s hurricane record is the longest and most severe in the nation. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 rewrote building codes after devastating South Florida, Hurricane Irma in 2017 raked the peninsula, Hurricane Michael in 2018 struck the Panhandle at catastrophic intensity around Mexico Beach, and Hurricane Ian in 2022 drove a devastating surge and wind through the Fort Myers and southwest Florida coast. Between the major landfalls, tropical storms and heavy rain flood low-lying communities across the state.

UPA is licensed to serve policyholders in Florida. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit public adjusting firm, and we never take a penny out of a property or business owner's pocket — our fee is covered by the overhead and profit built into the insurance settlement itself.

Florida losses fail on cause and scope more aggressively than anywhere. The wind-versus-water distinction is pressed hard to move damage into the flood exclusion, roof claims face intense scrutiny over age, wear, and matching, and carriers apply heavy documentation demands and depreciation to reduce or deny claims. After a landfall, the sheer volume of claims means damage is missed and low offers are made before the full loss is scoped.

Most Florida policies carry hurricane or named-storm percentage deductibles that substantially change a storm settlement, and roof coverage frequently turns on age, actual cash value schedules, and specific roof-related provisions. Surge and flooding sit under a separate flood policy rather than the homeowners form, and whether the policy pays actual cash value or replacement cost is decisive — so identifying the governing provisions before filing is critical.

Florida’s building stock — concrete-block and frame homes, tile and shingle roofs, and coastal and near-grade construction — produces loss patterns first-pass adjusters under-scope, especially wind-driven water in wall and roof assemblies, cracked and displaced roof tiles that leak later, and the layered wind-and-water damage a fast catastrophe inspection tends to flatten.

Florida is the hardest property-insurance market in the country: hurricane losses, roof claim disputes, and insurers that scrutinize every claim. Policyholders here need an advocate more than anywhere.