Hurricane Season Ends Nov 30: A Year-End Checklist for Florida Homeowners

Official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center. Storms can still form outside those dates, but for homeowners in Florida City, Homestead and the rest of South Miami-Dade, late November is a natural close-out window: finish open storm claims, refresh your photo inventory, gather wind-mitigation and roof paperwork for renewal season, and confirm whether flood coverage is in place before the year turns.

This is a year-end / end-of-season checklist, not a how-to for filing a new claim. For steps after wind damage, see our hurricane claim checklist. For insurer response deadlines, see the claim timeline. My Safe Florida Home and wind mitigation stay the deep dives; here we only flag what to gather before renewals.

1. Close out open storm claims and notice deadlines

Florida law sets outer limits on when you must notify your property insurer. Under s. 627.70132, Florida Statutes, a claim or reopened claim is barred unless you give notice within one year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim (additional damage from the same peril on a claim that was already timely noticed) is barred unless notice comes within 18 months after the date of loss. For hurricane and other weather-related losses, the date of loss is the day the hurricane made landfall, or the day NOAA verifies the weather event.

• List every open or recently closed wind claim from this season: claim number, adjuster name, last payment and any items still disputed.
• If repairs uncovered more damage, ask whether a supplemental notice is still within the 18-month window.
• Keep a single folder (paper or cloud) with photos, receipts, estimates and every letter. The Florida Department of Financial Services Hurricane Ready page also points homeowners to the Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236 for claim questions.

2. Refresh photos and your home inventory

DFS advises homeowners to make an itemized list of belongings with purchase amounts, dates and serial numbers, and to keep dated photographs or video (Hurricane Ready). After a busy storm season, walk the house again while rooms are put back together:

1. Film every room, closets, the garage, the attic access and the exterior, including the roof from the ground.
2. Photograph major appliances, electronics and furniture; keep receipts for big-ticket items with the inventory.
3. Update the list after any renovations or replacements done this year.
4. Store a copy off-site or in the cloud, and note your policy number and claims phone number in the same place.

3. Gather wind-mitigation and roof paperwork for renewal season

Many Florida policies renew in the winter and early spring. The Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form — form OIR-B1-1802 — is what a qualified inspector uses to document wind-resistant features of the home. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation updated the form; the Rev. 04/26 version must be used for inspections on or after April 1, 2026, and a completed form remains valid for up to five years if nothing material on the structure has changed and no inaccuracies are found (DFS mitigation page; OIR wind-mitigation resources).

• Find your current OIR-B1-1802 (or ask your agent for a copy) and note the inspection date.
• If the form is nearing five years old, or you replaced the roof, windows or garage door, plan a new inspection before renewal — details are in our wind mitigation guide.
• Pull roof permits, product approvals, contractor invoices and photos of straps, clips or secondary water resistance into the same renewal folder.

4. Check My Safe Florida Home only if you still need an inspection or grant path

The state My Safe Florida Home program, run by the Florida Department of Financial Services, can provide an eligible owner-occupied home a program wind-mitigation inspection and, separately, a grant path for recommended improvements, subject to legislative appropriations. High-level inspection eligibility includes a site-built, owner-occupied single-family home or townhouse on its own parcel with a homestead exemption; condos, mobile homes and rentals are outside the program. For status and how to apply, use the official site and our MSFH 2026 guide.

5. Confirm flood coverage status

Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood. DFS reminds Florida residents that flood coverage is separate and that storm surge and rising water need their own policy (Hurricane Ready). Before renewal season:

• Confirm whether you have an NFIP or other flood policy, the dwelling and contents limits, and the renewal date.
• As of this writing, Congress has authorized the National Flood Insurance Program through December 11, 2026 (FEMA reauthorization page). Existing policies generally continue through their terms; a lapse would stop new sales and renewals until Congress acts again.
• If you are in Homestead or Florida City, our flood insurance page and king tides guide explain maps and seasonal flooding without retelling every claim step.

6. Document mitigation work done this year

Shutters installed, a new roof, impact openings, improved roof-to-wall connections — anything that changed the wind profile of the house should be in writing before you talk renewal. Keep before-and-after photos, closed permits and the final invoice. If the work was funded or recommended through My Safe Florida Home, keep the program reports with the rest of the file and share them with your agent so the next OIR-B1-1802 can reflect what is actually on the house.

7. Talk to your agent before peak renewal season

December through early spring is when many South Florida home policies come up for renewal and when underwriters ask for updated roof ages, mitigation forms and flood status. Bring:

1. Your declarations page and any open-claim notes.
2. The current wind-mitigation form and roof documentation.
3. Flood policy declarations, or a note that you still need flood coverage.
4. Questions about hurricane deductibles, ordinance-or-law coverage and whether renovations changed the dwelling limit you need.

If you are with Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, ask how any takeout notices or flood-related requirements interact with your renewal. For a local review in English, Spanish or Russian, see our homeowners insurance page for Florida City, request a quote or call (305) 859-3953.

Quick year-end checklist

• Open claims closed or on a written follow-up plan; notice windows under s. 627.70132 checked.
• Fresh walk-through video and updated inventory stored off-site.
• OIR-B1-1802 located; new inspection scheduled if the form is aging or the roof changed.
• MSFH status checked only if you still need a program inspection or grant path.
• Flood policy status and NFIP authorization window noted.
• Mitigation receipts and permits filed; agent appointment booked before your renewal month.