TAMPA, Fla. — Flood damage is widespread along Florida’s Gulf Coast due to Hurricane Helene, and that means soon there will be a rush of insurance claims.

It could take months for some claims to be sorted out, not just because of an impending back log, but also because flood insurance claims can be more complex.

In some cases, a home may be covered by flood, but not the contents inside. Sometimes, only contents may be covered, but not the structure.

Insurance experts say it all depends on the specific language of the individual policy.

Florida’s former Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller says filing a claim as quickly as possible will help get you to the front of the line, but there are things you need to keep in mind as you file.

“Take pictures of it exactly like it is and then get it out of your house, and then preserve it,” Miller says. “Make sure it’s in the garage, wrapped up in plastic bags. Do not throw any of that damaged property away because the adjuster is going to want to inspect it.”

In some cases, a claim could be denied if an adjuster can’t inspect damaged property that you are filing a claim for.

Hurricane Helene hit at a time when Floridians finally started to see homeowners’ insurance rates leveling off, and in some cases dropping.

Miller says because Helene was a flood event and not a wind event, that could help mitigate the estimated damage total.

She says, right now, it doesn’t appear Helene will lead to any insurance rate spikes in the upcoming year.