The simple answer is "yes". Even if your home or condo in Panama City Beach looks fine, it's worth a careful look this week. Isaias pushed water 5.6 feet above normal high tide here, the second-highest surge on record, and roof damage often doesn't show from the ground. In Florida you generally have one year from the storm to report damage to your insurance company, so the time to look is now.
Honestly, I'd rather you find it now, on your own schedule, than have a buyer's inspector find it in the middle of a deal.
How did the beach in Panama City Beach hold up after Isaias?
Better than a lot of us expected. Isaias came ashore near Destin on October 9 as a Category 2 hurricane, west of us. Panama City Beach still saw its second-highest storm surge on record, and the highest since Hurricane Opal in 1995.
Local tourism officials say the beach held up well, and they credit the sand that's been put back on the beach since Hurricane Michael. That work is called beach renourishment. A few beach access points were damaged. Bay County approved surveys to measure exactly how much sand was lost, and crews start in Panama City Beach this week. The beach is open.
What should I check if I own a house?
Where | What to look for |
|---|---|
The yard | Shingles, pieces of flashing (the metal strips around vents and chimneys), or gutter parts on the ground |
From the ground | Shingles that look lifted, curled or missing; anything hanging off the roof edge |
Inside | Stains or bubbling on ceilings, especially near outside walls |
The attic | Damp spots, daylight where it shouldn't be, wet insulation |
Your phone | Photos of everything, before anything is fixed |
Don't climb on the roof yourself. If anything looks off, call a licensed roofer or home inspector.
What should I check if I own a condo?
In a condo, the roof and the outside of the building belong to the condo association, not to you. Your job is the inside of your unit: ceilings, the walls around your sliding glass doors, the balcony, and anywhere water could have come in. Take photos, and read whatever your association sends out about the building. If you rent your unit out, ask your rental manager whether anyone has been inside since the storm.
How long do I have to report storm damage to insurance in Florida?
Under Florida law, you generally have one year from the date of the damage to give your insurance company notice of a hurricane claim. Your policy has its own rules too, so the best step is to call your insurance agent and ask. A hurricane deductible in Florida is usually a percentage of what your home is insured for, not a flat dollar amount, so a small repair may cost less than your deductible. It's still worth documenting.
How do I avoid a bad contractor after the storm?
Florida's Attorney General and Chief Financial Officer are already warning Panhandle residents about repair scams after Isaias. The common warning signs are someone who shows up without being called, wants full payment or cash up front, or offers to cover your deductible. Get more than one written estimate, talk to your insurance company before you sign anything, and look up any contractor's license at myfloridalicense.com.
Why does this matter if I'm thinking about selling?
Because a buyer's inspector is going to look at your roof. I've watched this happen. A few years ago I worked with a seller whose house was beautifully kept, and they skipped the inspection before listing. The buyer's inspector found shingle problems while we were under contract (meaning there was a signed deal headed to closing). The roof was replaced under warranty, but closing slid from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
It's happening right now, too. One of my current listings lost a contract over roof damage from hail a few years back. The insurance company is fixing the roof and we have a new contract, but it has cost my sellers time and money getting there.
Finding a problem yourself gives you choices. You can fix it, get a quote, or price around it, on your own timeline. Finding out during a deal gives you a deadline. If you're weighing whether to inspect before listing, I wrote more about that in "Should I get a pre-listing inspection before selling my house in Panama City Beach?".
Quick answers
If you're thinking about selling this year and want the name of an inspector or roofer we trust, call me at 850-290-0417.
- Surge of 5.6 ft, second-highest on record: FOX Forecast Center, via FOX Weather (Oct 2026)
- Highest since Opal (1995), beach surveys, renourishment credited: WJHG, Oct 13–14, 2026; Panama City News Herald via Yahoo, Oct 13, 2026
- Landfall near Destin, Category 2, Oct 9: Insurance Business, Oct 2026
- One-year notice: Florida Statute 627.70132
- Scam warnings and license lookup: Florida AG and CFO via News4Jax and WFTV; AAA, Oct 2026
- Claims lower than feared: Insurance Journal, Oct 13, 2026
