Florida insurers are dealing with nearly $90 million in claims from Hurricane Debby, while the storm caused $28 billion in total economic losses across the United States.
Florida insurers are grappling with nearly $90 million in claims filed in the wake of Hurricane Debby, according to Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) data.
The total estimated insured losses currently stand at $89,499,718, with residential property and homeowners insurance claims making up the bulk of this financial impact. As of August 9, a total of 11,972 insurance claims have been filed across various lines of business. The data indicates that the majority of these claims remain unresolved, with only 11.1 percent of all claims closed. Among the hardest-hit categories, residential property claims number 7,325, yet only 9.2 percent of these claims have been closed, with 6,579 still open without payment.
Homeowners insurance claims, which constitute a significant portion of the residential property category, have similarly seen just 9.9 percent of 6,111 claims filed closed, with 5,451 claims still awaiting payment. The data shows that even smaller lines of business, such as dwelling and mobile homeowners insurance, with closure rates at 6.7 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively.
Commercial property claims, while fewer in number, also show a minimal closure rate. Of the 198 commercial property claims filed, 4.5 percent have been closed, leaving 189 claims still open without payment. In commercial residential insurance, four percent of claims have been resolved. Private flood insurance claims, numbering 105, exhibit a 1.9 percent closure rate.
The “Other Lines of Business” category, which includes various smaller and less complex claims, has seen a somewhat higher closure rate of 14.8 percent.
More broadly speaking, Hurricane Debby caused $28 billion in damage and economic losses across the United States, according to an AccuWeather preliminary estimate published on Friday.
The $28 billion estimate encompasses both direct damage—such as property destruction and infrastructure losses—and indirect economic impacts, including disruptions to the tourism industry during its peak season, supply chain interruptions, and lost wages. The storm’s slow pace exacerbated its impact, the meteorology group noted, leading to prolonged business closures and widespread travel disruptions, including the cancellation of thousands of flights.
In Florida, the Gulf Coast bore the brunt of the storm surge, with major population centers like Fort Myers and Tampa experiencing severe flooding. In Lee County, the surge reached 3.25 feet above the average high tide, inundating homes and businesses.
As Debby moved inland, it unleashed torrential rains, particularly in northern Florida, and continued to cause flooding and destruction as it advanced through the Carolinas, Virginia, and parts of the Northeast.