Fri May 16 20:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Florida Homeowners Brace for Hurricane Season Amidst Insurance Crisis
**TALLAHASSEE, FL** – As Florida prepares for the official start of hurricane season on June 1st, homeowners are facing a double threat: increasingly intense storms fueled by climate change and a growing insurance crisis that leaves them vulnerable.
A recent report by Weiss Ratings reveals that a significant number of Florida insurance companies are denying a large percentage of claims. The report found that 14 Florida insurers denied more than half of all claims filed in 2024. People’s Trust, for example, denied 75.4% of claims – nearly double its 2023 rate. Even State Farm Florida, the state’s third-largest provider, denied nearly 60% of claims.
“After paying far higher premiums and suffering widespread storm damage, this is like a punch in the gut for Florida homeowners,” Weiss stated.
Experts attribute the insurance crisis to the escalating cost of climate inaction. The burning of fossil fuels is releasing heat-trapping pollution, leading to warmer oceans and more powerful, slower-moving hurricanes. Insurers are responding by denying claims, raising rates, and exiting high-risk areas, leaving homeowners exposed to financial ruin.
However, state authorities are taking action. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation recently fined Heritage Insurance $1 million, and Universal Property & Casualty Insurance was ordered to return over $30 million after submitting fraudulent claims. Reforms aimed at attracting new insurers to the market are also underway.
Beyond state-level efforts, organizations like Rewiring America are promoting the transition to clean energy to combat climate change at its root. Federal initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act are also providing funding for clean energy and disaster resilience programs. However, some of these incentives could be at risk if Congress acts under President Donald Trump.
While hurricanes cannot be stopped, experts urge Floridians to demand accountability from insurers, reduce pollution driving extreme storms, and explore climate issues to better prepare for the challenges ahead.
First Piper 