Hopefully folks in the Mid-Atlantic will survive this storm’s wrath with very minimal loss of life or injury, but even one death or serious injury is one to many. And remember serious injuries and death are not limited to the height of a storm. In fact, state and local officials are warning the communities affected, that rising water, flash flooding, storm debris, downed power lines, and wildlife of all sorts are on the move.

The catastrophic flood event expected from Hurricane Florence with widespread flooding on the Virginia, North and South Carolina coasts is bringing back bad memories from the debacle we went thru with Superstorm Sandy. For those who have flood insurance, we encourage you to review and pay close attention to your flood policy’s terms and conditions. The policies issued by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are unique because they fall under a Federal Government program with its own rules and regulations. Keep in mind that many private insurance companies resell and administer the NFIP policies.  So make sure you confirm if your flood policy falls under this program.

Will Hurricane Florence become the Hurricane Harvey flooding event of the east coast? While the weather experts debate that issue, there is no doubt one way or another that Hurricane Florence is about to unleash a lot of misery on the mid Atlantic coast. Back in September 1989, Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston South Carolina and downtown buildings had 16 plus feet of water. Myrtle Beach just north of Charleston is now a very large tourist resort community and will have major damage if Florence keeps on its current track.

After receiving a low initial offer from their insurance company for a water damage claim resulting from a leaking shower pan on the 2^nd floor, these Lithia, Fl homeowners decided to see if a public insurance adjuster could help them with their insurance claim. They contacted Tampa Public Adjuster, Scott Luginski and indicated they were unfamiliar with the claim process and simply did not have the time or knowledge to deal with the frustration of an insurance claim and negotiating a better settlement.  Once retained, Scott was able to inspect the property and noticed a considerable amount of unaccounted damage. 

Congratulations to our Pittsburgh Public Adjuster Zach Flora who recently teamed up with WPIX 11 Cares Pack the Bus initiative to donate school supplies for an entire classroom in support of the education system in Robinson Township, Allegheny County. Zach is a great example that shows giving back means more than just helping property owners with their insurance claims. Zach is an ardent supporter of education excellence and is also a product of the local school system. 

Expert Public Adjuster Dick Tutwiler explains the importance of understanding the difference between flood and water damage property insurance claims.  What to do if you have both wind and water damage. What you need to know about flood insurance to avoid claim delays.

Public Adjusters Dick and Rick Tutwiler provide insurance property claim tips on WFLA Daytime Show on when to use a public adjuster for fire loss, water damage and some advice for out of state residents who own vacation property in Florida. Happy to contribute to policyholders’ hurricane season prep.

We're happy to help policyholders understand the role of Public Insurance Adjusters in the claims process and be part of WFLA TV8's 2018 Hurricane season storm preparation and disaster planning programming. Click below to see interview or here if you do not see the image.

It’s been a while since I have seen Cat 5 hurricane damage.  In fact, the last time was back in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew came ashore in South Florida.  No shortage of Cats 1,2,3, and maybe a 4 in there somewhere in the past 26 years, but trust me, a Cat 5 hurricane catastrophe stands out and those memories will stay with you forever.
 

So, it all came back to me when I visited St. Maarten/St Martin, a Dutch/French island in the Leeward Islands, one of the first in the island chain to be hit by Hurricane Irma eight months ago. This was my first trip back after the storm, but some of my colleagues at Tutwiler & Associates Public Adjusters had already been on the ground shortly after the storm passed, meeting with old clients and signing up new property owners as soon as commercial flights resumed. Eight months later our efforts paid off as our clients’ property insurance claims are settled and the rebuilding planning and construction has started for them.

Happy to be a WFLA Hurricane Season sponsor and help contribute our insurance claims expertise to the Daytime show. Watch the Storm Team 8 Hurricane Season Special "Surviving the Storm" this Saturday at 7pm and look for our claim tips throughout the season. More to come.