Citizens Insurance and Flood Risks Pressure Local Homeowners
Key Questions
What change is Citizens Property Insurance making to wind coverage?
Florida's state-backed Citizens Property Insurance will drop wind coverage on any home insured above $400,000 that does not carry federal flood insurance. Hurricane season begins June 1, and this policy affects homes exceeding that value threshold.
How could this affect homeowners in Port St. Lucie?
With the area's median home price at $403,876, many local homeowners may lose wind coverage if they lack flood insurance. The lack of public data on impacted policyholders adds uncertainty for residents.
What is the new deadline for filing hurricane claims in Florida?
A 2022 state law shortens the hurricane claim filing window to one year, down from two years. Homeowners must now file within this reduced timeframe to seek coverage for damages.
Citizens' underwriting change could affect many Port St. Lucie homeowners near the city's $403,876 median home price. The completed 16-acre Sheraton Plaza stormwater project used $2.23 million in ARP funds and replaced an outfall with a 72-inch pipe, but flooding, drainage, mitigation pumps, the one-year claim deadline, and erosion near the nuclear plant remain active risks.