As Hurricane Milton nears, what Canadians with Florida property should know

globalnews.ca:

Many Canadians flock to Florida as cold weather nears but as Hurricane Milton barrels towards the state as a Category 5 storm — though is expected to make landfall as a Category 4 — it may have some north of the border worried about property they own down south.

The latest survey by the National Association of Realtors found Canadians top the list of foreign buyers in Florida, making up 13 per cent, and more than half a million Canadians own property in the state.

But when a hurricane hits they may find it more difficult to be able to get help after the fact.

That’s because according to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, only U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals such as those from American Samoa, or qualified non-citizens — those with a Green Card, those who have been granted asylum or refugees are among those falling into this category — can receive disaster assistance.

Given the limits to disaster assistance, here’s what property owners like snowbirds can do to best protect what they own and what to do after the storm leaves.

According to the Canadian Snowbird Association online guide, trimming or removing damaged trees and branches, securing rain gutters and clearing any clogged areas or debris, and retrofitting your roof, windows and doors can help limit potential damage.

The association’s online guide also advises people to keep important financial and legal information available at all times, take inventory of their personal assets, review their insurance, and retain all receipts for temporary living expenses if needed for future claims.

Sonia Bolduc, vice-president of business development at NatBank, a Florida subsidiary of Canada’s National Bank, said when you purchase a home in the state, mortgage