It is extremely important to have records of your property’s condition in the event that you need to file a claim with your insurance company.

Based on current assessments, Hurricane Debby is expected to cause significant losses from Ft. Myers in Southwest Florida, Sarasota to Clearwater St. Petersburg, and especially into Tampa Bay. Right now, flash flooding continues, storm surge coinciding with onshore winds, a full moon, and high tides may produce some surprises. Property owners should prepare for the worst. Additionally, embedded tornadoes and significant wind gusts are always a risk, causing roof and interior water damage that may initially appear as roof leaks.

There have been downed power lines, significant outages, and in some areas, generators are humming with on-and-off squalls and record training. We've heard about building fires, trees falling on structures, and the worst may not be over, as Debby’s impacts might not be fully known for another 3-5 days. The storm has made landfall and is forecasted to impact coastal and inland areas from Tallahassee and Jacksonville into Georgia, potentially causing catastrophic flooding in Charleston, South Carolina, and mid-Atlantic states.

The time to prepare is now. Should you experience damage, you need to do everything possible to protect your property insurance claim. Experiencing damage to your home or business can be distressing, and the aftermath can often be overwhelming. One of the critical steps post-loss is to document the damage for insurance claims accurately. Proper documentation not only helps in recovering your claim benefits but also ensures a smoother claims process. Here are a few tips to help you document and prepare an insurance claim effectively.

After the Storm:

• When it is safe to do so, photograph your property’s interior, exterior, and roof.
• Consult with a licensed public adjuster experienced in handling insurance claims before giving any recorded statements or meeting with an adjuster assigned to the claim.
• Call the insurance carrier and report the claim promptly.
• Homeowners should obtain an inspection by a qualified contractor and/or roofer to assess whether the hurricane-force winds have damaged or diminished the roofing system and building envelope.
• Take photos and record the questions and answers when talking to adjusters.
• Keep track of the name and contact information of every person you talk to at your insurance company.
• Check your policy for deductibles, co-insurance penalties, and exclusionary language such as wind-driven rain.
• Make a copy of the insurance policy and keep it in a safe place.
• Check your policy coverages and sub-limits.
• Just because water has not entered the structure does not mean that there is no damage to the property. We have seen too many homeowner claims where an engineer is hired months after the storm, and the engineer states the damage preexisted the hurricane.

Business Owners Preparedness Tips:

• Businesses should pay close attention to the storm's forecast path. The National Hurricane Center releases a new full advisory every 6 hours at 5am, 11am, 5pm, and 11pm EDT. They are issuing intermediate advisories every 3 hours between the full advisories (1am, 8am, 1pm, 8pm EDT).
• During this time, it's important to review your disaster and emergency communication plan.
• Backup all data on servers and personal computers and ensure remote access is available.
• Ensure your equipment is raised above potential flood levels.
• Review your insurance policies to mitigate any possible gaps in coverage. Excess flood policies may be key.
• Protect and duplicate important business documents and records. Ensure they are accessible from anywhere.

If you have questions regarding Hurricane Debby or require professional assistance preparing your property insurance claim visit our website or contact us to submit a question to one of our public adjuster insurance claim experts.