Florida ranks sixth among states with the largest shares of homeowners who don't have meaningful insurance.
Putnam County, in the northern part of the state, is at 32.9%, while in Miami-Dade County, nearly 25% lack homeowners insurance that would protect them from calamity.
In Miami-Dade County, 33.5% of homeowners pay $4,000-plus a year, ranking it in the top 10 among the country's most populous counties.
Curtis, who has lived in Taylor County for 40 years and is a former forester, said many of her neighbors can't afford to pay for insurance.
Her insurance doesn't cover hurricane damage, so McDonald will anxiously await news from home until the storm passes, she said.
Persons:
Michelle Curtis, Hurricane Helene, Curtis, Helene, Debbie McDonald, Hurricane Idalia, she's, McDonald
Organizations:
Southeastern, Atmospheric Administration, Miami, Dade, Census, Cedar
Locations:
Florida, Perry, Hurricane, Taylor County, Florida’s Big Bend, Southeastern U.S, Putnam County, Miami, Dade County, U.S, Cedar, Gainesville, Jacksonville