I want to thank NBC reporter, Rob Wile for allowing me to contribute to his news piece: Insurance 'nightmare' unfolds for Florida homeowners after back-to-back hurricanes (nbcnews.com)   It brings to light something we’ve been blogging about for some time. Policyholders have been put in a precarious position at the worst time when it comes to putting their lives back together and upholding their insurance coverage.

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Due to the widespread and extensive wind damage caused by Hurricane Milton, insurance company adjusters and many inexperienced contractors, in their rush to assess claims, may eyeball roof damage and recommend partial repairs based on simple visual inspection. And I don’t want to even address those trying to inspect roofs with drones. This is going to cause terrible problems in the future as flying debris can damage the membrane of roofs and set people up for severe water damage in the future. Adjusters simply don’t spend enough time assessing policyholders damage or consider the increased cost of materials and repairs given the state of conditions. 

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Hurricane Helene has dealt a devastating blow up and down Florida’s Gulf Coast. Businesses and homeowners need to stay patient and protect their claim. While you wait for the insurance company to send out an adjuster, insurance companies will be requesting the following documentation from owners or their representatives:
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As recovery efforts begin after Hurricane Helene, many Floridians are facing the challenge of navigating property damage claims. This is a critical moment, especially given the lessons learned from Hurricane Ian just two years ago. While the focus is understandably on the present, 60 Minutes will be airing a segment tonight titled After the Hurricane, reflecting on Ian’s aftermath and the road to recovery—an important reminder as we move forward after Helene.
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It's been quite the whirlwind at Tutwiler & Associates! This year we are celebrating our 40^th Year Anniversary of putting policyholders first. This week, the Emeritus and Founder paid a visit to our office, sharing insights from his career in the professional public adjusting industry and invaluable insider knowledge acquired during his tenure at a major Insurance Company. From what I've gathered, the video company is doing a news piece diving deep into unraveling the complexities of insurance schemes in Florida along with the internal methods used in the claims settlement process between insurance companies and their policyholders.
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Based on current forecasts, it appears Hurricane Idalia will create significant flooding from Sarasota to St. Petersburg and especially into Tampa Bay the likes that this Florida public adjuster has not seen. Storm surge coinciding with a full moon and high tides may produce some surprises and property owners should prepare for the worst. In addition, embedded tornadoes and significant wind gusts are always in the mix. The time to prepare is now. And should you experience damage, you want to do everything you can to protect your property insurance claim. Experiencing a flood in your home or business can be distressing, and the aftermath can often be overwhelming. One of the critical steps post-flood is to document the damage for insurance claims accurately. Proper documentation not only helps in maximizing your claim benefits but also ensures a smoother claims process. Here are the best tips to help you document and prepare a flood insurance claim effectively.

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We pay good money to insure our property, while hoping never to have to file claim. When disaster strikes you expect your insurance company to have your back. In a perfect world, your insurance carrier will send out their field adjuster following your notification of a loss. The adjuster will thoroughly inspect and properly value your damage and a check will be forthcoming in a reasonable amount of time. In our 38-years of practicing public adjusting, with storms like Hurricane Ian, we unfortunately see too many cases where this is not the case.

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The complexities of a property insurance claim are many. This is even more true with the variables that exist in claims for country clubs and resorts. Owners and managers are not only tasked with navigating a building damage claim and policy coverage issues, but they also have the monumental task of addressing, assessing, and seeking compensation for damages to business personal property, maintenance equipment, golf carts, golf course and grounds, supplies, saleable goods Inventory, food & beverage stock, debris removal, and costs incurred for engineers, architects, and auditors. Moreover, owners will be tasked with addressing and projecting intangible damages for items like business interruption, extra expense, lost sales revenue, and lost membership dues. For business managers not familiar with the insurance claims process this is a daunting task that takes away large chunks of time from their primary responsibilities to efficiently operate the business. Learn how Public Adjuster Mike Stabile put his expertise to work for this client and acheived a fair claim settlement. 

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As Tropical Storm Elsa approaches the Tampa Bay area residents need to take this storm seriously and prepare accordingly as the path continues to evolve. This type of storm can throw off tornado activity and pockets of heavy wind gusts. As a result, thousands of homeowners may be contacting their insurance company to file an insurance claim. Resources are likely to be stretched and frustration with claims will grow as our public insurance adjusters have seen with past storms. We want everyone to stay safe and also be in a condition to recover as best they can. Below are a few popular pre-storm claim tips that we always try to share with clients. Please feel free to pass them along. Bottom line – PREPARE NOW!

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We were so glad to be able to work with Tampa Bay Times seasoned reporter Philip Morgan to help educate the public regarding insurance claims and the value of having a public adjuster professionally manage the claim. Read here: The Policyholder's Champion in Tampa Bay

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