Florida insurance news, Oct. 11, 2026: Citizens resumes new policies, the state emergency grows to 30 counties, and regulators start tracking Isaias claims
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Four updates from the last two days for South Florida homeowners, drivers and small-business owners, as recovery from Hurricane Isaias begins. Each item is summarized in our own words, with a link to the original source.
1.Citizens lifts its statewide pause: new policies and coverage increases are back
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation says the binding suspension it put in place for Isaias was lifted as of 5 a.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 10, and all regular business operations have resumed. The pause had been in effect statewide since Oct. 7, so agents could not bind new applications or changes that increase coverage anywhere in Florida, including Miami-Dade.
Why it matters for you: If you were waiting to start a Citizens policy, raise your limits or close on a home, your agent can move forward again. A new policy still only covers losses that happen after its effective date.
2.Isaias state of emergency expanded to 30 counties, including Tampa Bay
Gov. DeSantis signed Executive Order 26-212 on Oct. 10, adding Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties to the Isaias state of emergency, which now covers 30 counties from Escambia to the Tampa Bay area. The order also lets the Commissioner of Agriculture order mosquito-control measures in those counties because of standing water left by the storm. Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe are not on the list.
Why it matters for you: Emergency orders can affect deadlines and services in the listed counties. If you own a rental, a business location or family property on the Gulf Coast, check the damage and report any claim promptly.
Source: Executive Office of the Governor,
3.Regulators to start Isaias claims data call Monday; state warns of post-storm scams
In an Oct. 10 release, the Department of Financial Services said the Office of Insurance Regulation will issue its mandatory data call to insurers on Monday, Oct. 12, to start collecting data on property claims handling, with results posted on the OIR website as they come in. OIR said it will be actively monitoring how insurers handle claims in the coming weeks. DFS also warned about insurance, home-repair and contractor scams and pointed residents to its fraud hotline, 1-800-378-0445, and FraudFreeFlorida.com.
Why it matters for you: Before you sign a repair contract or hand over your claim to anyone, verify their license. If a claim stalls, the state consumer helpline at 1-877-693-5236 can help.
4.Tropics quiet near Florida; hurricane-deductible window is closing
NHC’s Sunday-morning outlook shows Isaias as a post-tropical low near the Tennessee–Kentucky border, and the only area being watched is a disorganized low far out near the Cabo Verde Islands, with a low 20% chance of forming over the next 7 days. NHC discontinued the last storm surge and tropical storm warnings for Florida by 4 a.m. CDT on Oct. 10. Under section 627.4025, Florida Statutes, the hurricane-deductible period ends 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or warning for Florida ends.
Why it matters for you: Damage from a separate storm after that window usually falls under your regular deductible, not the hurricane deductible. Your declarations page shows which deductible applies to which peril.
Source: National Hurricane Center,
Source: National Hurricane Center,
This roundup is general information, not legal advice or policy language. Each item is our own short summary of the linked original report; details can change after publication, so check the source for the full story. Coverage depends on the terms, limits and exclusions of your policy. Talk with a licensed agent about your situation.