Under section 626.854 of the Florida Statutes, a public adjuster is the person who, for compensation, prepares, files, or negotiates an insurance claim on a policyholder's behalf. Only a licensed public adjuster or an attorney may do that for you. FloodReady Florida is not a public adjuster, not an insurance agency, and not an attorney. Nothing here tells you how to present a claim or what to say to get a larger payment. It explains the process in plain English so you know what is happening while it happens.
Which policy does this loss belong to?
This is the first fork, and getting it wrong wastes days. The distinction is not about how much water there was. It is about the legal definition of a flood.
Florida's flood insurance statute defines flood as partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land, or of two or more properties, from overflow of inland or tidal waters, rapid runoff of surface water, mudflow, or shoreline collapse. The NFIP uses the same essential structure. Water arriving from inside your own building — a supply line, a water heater, a clogged air conditioner condensate drain — is not that, no matter how much of it there is.
| Where the water came from | Which policy the question belongs to | Who can answer it |
|---|---|---|
| Rising surface water, tidal water, or runoff affecting the area around you | A flood policy — NFIP or coverage written under Fla. Stat. § 627.715 | Your flood carrier, or your own licensed agent |
| A burst supply line, failed water heater, appliance hose, or AC condensate overflow | Your homeowners policy | Your homeowners carrier, or your own licensed agent |
| Water through a storm-damaged roof or window opening | Usually homeowners, depending on policy wording | Your homeowners carrier, or your own licensed agent |
| Sewer or drain backup | Depends entirely on cause and on endorsements you may or may not have | Your carrier — read the declarations page first |
Note the third column. Every row ends the same way, deliberately: the only people who can tell you what your policy covers are the carrier whose name is on it and a licensed professional you engage yourself.
What actually happens, in order
- Make the property safe and stop the water. Electrical hazards first, always. The full sequence is in what to do in the first 24 hours.
- Document before you clean. Wide shots of every affected room, water depth against a fixed object, close-ups, the failed part while it is still in place, and a dated video walkthrough. This is the highest-value half hour in the process, and it happens before any claim exists.
- Report the loss to your carrier. Most policies require prompt notice, and your declarations page — not this website — sets that deadline. Report factually: what happened, when it started, which rooms.
- Mitigate. Policies generally require reasonable steps to prevent further damage. In Florida that means drying fast, because the mold window is 24 to 48 hours. Keep every receipt.
- Inspection. An adjuster assigned by your carrier scopes the damage. A restoration contractor's moisture readings and drying log are useful records to have by then.
- Resolution. The carrier issues its determination under the policy. If you disagree, that is when a licensed public adjuster or an attorney becomes relevant — people legally permitted to act for you, which we are not.
Be especially careful with anything titled "assignment," "direction to pay," or "work authorization." Florida law changed here: for residential property policies issued on or after 1 January 2023, assignment of post-loss insurance benefits is prohibited and any attempt to assign is void. A contractor who wants a signature in the first ten minutes, before the damage has been documented and before the scope is in writing, is telling you something about how the rest of the job will go.
Start here
House flooded — the first 24 hours
The emergency sequence by time window, and what to photograph before you clean.
How fast mold grows
The EPA's 24 to 48 hour window and Florida's 10-square-foot licensing threshold.
Choosing a restoration company
What IICRC certification means, and the paperwork red flags worth walking away from.
AC drain line water damage
Florida's most common everyday leak — and why it is never a flood claim.
Flood insurance guides
Coverage limits, cost data, how the two channels are built, and when coverage starts.
Flood risk where you live
How risk varies across Florida's coasts, rivers and low-lying inland areas.
Get connected with one licensed pro
Whether you need drying started today or a licensed agent to explain your coverage, tell us your ZIP code. We pass your details to one independent, appropriately licensed professional serving your area.
We are paid a flat referral fee that does not depend on whether you buy anything. FloodReady Florida is not a restoration contractor, not an insurance agency, and not a public adjuster.
Sources
- The Florida Senate — Florida Statutes § 626.854. Definition of a public adjuster and the limits on who may act on a policyholder's behalf; and Senate Bill 2-A (2022) on post-loss assignment of benefits.
- The Florida Senate — Florida Statutes § 627.715. The statutory definition of "flood."
- FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program — Start your flood claim and what you need to know about buying flood insurance.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. The 24 to 48 hour drying window.
- Florida Department of Financial Services — Licensee Search. Verify an adjuster, agent, or agency licence.
FloodReady Florida is not an insurance agency, insurance agent, broker, public adjuster, attorney, or restoration contractor, and is not licensed to transact insurance in Florida or any other state. We do not sell insurance, quote premiums, compare specific policies or insurers, prepare or negotiate claims, or advise you on how to present one. Nothing on this page is insurance or legal advice.
If you ask us to, we pass your details to one independent, appropriately licensed third-party professional serving your ZIP code. We are paid a flat referral fee, fixed in advance, that does not depend on whether you buy anything or on the size of any job. We receive no commission, override, or payment contingent on a sale.
Statutes, policy forms and program rules change. Confirm current terms with a licensed professional, and read official National Flood Insurance Program information at floodsmart.gov.