What happens to your Hurricane Sally insurance claim once the adjuster leaves

What happens to your Hurricane Sally insurance claim once the adjuster leaves

Many people might be surprised that having an adjuster look at your claim is only the beginning of the insurance claim process. Remember, the field adjuster that inspected your property may not be an employee of the insurance company. They are typically independent adjusters on contract and typically are paid a set fee or percentage for each claim they handle. This is especially true during disaster situations Like Hurricane Sally when there are so many claims to adjust. Typically, there is a shortage of qualified adjusters and they are hard pressed to get to as many claims as possible. You should ask them what firm they are with when they come to inspect your property and note how thorough they are recording your damage and if they are “listening” to you. 


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How Policyholders Can Benefit from Hiring a Public Adjuster for Their Hurricane Sally Property Insurance Claim

How Policyholders Can Benefit from Hiring a Public Adjuster for Their Hurricane Sally Property Insurance Claim

Based on the volume of phone calls coming into our offices from Pensacola and surrounding counties, Florida Panhandle business and homeowners are quickly turning their attention to recovering from Hurricane Sally. With the one two punch of widespread flooding and property damage from CAT 2 winds, property owners unfamiliar with the process will be filing an insurance claim for the first time and possibly seeking assistance and advice for their property insurance damage claim. One of the most common questions we receive when calls come into our offices revolves around the benefits of hiring a Public Insurance Adjuster. It still amazes us that so many policyholders have not heard of our profession or understand what Public Adjusters do. So, in an attempt to educate and not blow our own horn, I’ll try to answer that question in hopes of giving readers a basic understanding of what Public Adjusters do and the critical role they can play in the insurance claims process.


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Advice for Condominium Associations Handling Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims

Advice for Condominium Associations Handling Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims

I’ve had the opportunity to consult with several Condominium Association Boards after major storms like Hurricane Sally. Most of the conversation deals with recommendations for dealing with their insurance company adjuster and contractors that I would like to share with others who may benefit from the same information.  


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Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims – Some Commonsense Advice from an Experienced Insurance Adjuster

Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims – Some Commonsense Advice from an Experienced Insurance Adjuster

Many business owners and homeowners who experienced damage from Hurricane Sally, are just now being allowed back into areas that were deemed too dangerous to enter. Our thoughts are with all businesses and families affected by Hurricane Sally and the brave first responders risking their safety to assist others. Based on damage reports and our own public adjuster staff who are monitoring the situation, the combination of wind, water and flood damage will create some complicated insurance claim disputes. And if property damage wasn’t enough, the long-term loss of power has added misery to the mix. To deal with these perils, it behooves property owners to keep their eye on the ball or in this case the money. High percentage hurricane deductibles are likely to be applied and many folks may be surprised that despite their wind or hurricane coverage, they may be out of pocket for mitigation and replacement costs due to lack of flood coverage or exclusions for water - sewer back-up.


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Hurricane Sally Insurance Claim Questions? – We have the Answers!

Hurricane Sally Insurance Claim Questions? – We have the Answers!

As we continue to answer calls from countless past clients who suffered property damage during Hurricane Sally, initial loss and damage news reports appear conflicting.  According to a September 18, 2020 article published by the Insurance Journal, “Hurricane Sally is not expected to cause a major insurance loss - compared to events such as the ongoing wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington, or Hurricane Laura.” However, the article explains “Flood Losses Expected to Be ‘Significant’ as the “the storm was more of a flood event.” For those suffering the aftereffects of Hurricane Sally, it’s extremely hard to draw a comparison given each catastrophic event is unique and not one property damage claim or insurance company is the same. Simply put, the facts and circumstances are a case-by-case basis as confirmed by the numerous community associations and past clients we spoke with.


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Florida Public Insurance Adjuster Tips for Handling Your Hurricane Sally Flood Insurance Claim

Florida Public Insurance Adjuster Tips for Handling Your Hurricane Sally Flood Insurance Claim

As the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Sally unfolds, thousands of businesses and homeowners who never considered the possibility of dealing with flood damage will be investigating the claim process. We will be sending a team of adjusters to the Pensacola area when authorities say it is safe to enter. So in order to offer assistance to our readers, I asked my talented staff of public adjusters to share some of the best tips they could think of for handling a flood claim. The following are some claim tips that hopefully will help folks should they have flood coverage or windstorm damage.


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Hurricane Sally Flood Victims Need to Understand the Nuances of Flood Insurance Claims

Hurricane Sally Flood Victims Need to Understand the Nuances of Flood Insurance Claims

Many policyholders impacted by Hurricane Sally will be dealing with flood related issues for the first time. 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.


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Hurricane Sally Wind and Flood Claims – Will You be Covered for Both?

Hurricane Sally Wind and Flood Claims – Will You be Covered for Both?

Insurance payments to policyholders with flood and wind damage from Hurricane Sally will depend on the policies they purchased, the language in each policy and the laws of each state where the damage occurred. The media is reporting widespread inland flooding, and there are reports that many property owners whose property was damaged by flood may not have purchased flood insurance.  So, what should you do if you do not have coverage from either the government run flood program NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) or flood coverage under some other type of special manuscript policy?


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Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims - Mistakes Property Owners Should Avoid

Hurricane Sally Insurance Claims - Mistakes Property Owners Should Avoid

The slow-moving Hurricane Sally has caused a combination of wind, water, roof and flood damage that will surely complicate the insurance claims process. As homeowners are allowed to return and begin the clean-up and recovery process, many residential and commercial policyholders will submit an insurance claim for storm damage to their property. The Public Adjusters at Tutwiler & Associates urge policyholders to take the proper steps to stay safe, protect their property insurance claim and avoid settlement problems with the following tips.
 
1. Notify your insurance carrier of your damage as soon as possible to expedite your claim. Do not go back into your home or mitigate damage until you know it’s safe to do so. If returning to your home after a power outage, do not turn on the power right away, especially if your home has been flooded. Have an electrician check the dwelling first to ensure it is safe.


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Hurricane Laura - Time to Prepare

Hurricane Laura - Time to Prepare

As Hurricane Laura continues strengthening into potential Category 4 storm, the NHC warns of an "unsurvivable storm surge," for parts of the Louisiana and Eastern Texas coast. 

Forecasters predict surges several feet high could reach nearly to Interstate 10 in Louisiana, endangering cities like Lake Charles, and others some 35 miles inland. Only a few hours remain to protect life and property.

  • Texas residence seeking to evacuate should consider DriveTexas.org.
  • Louisiana, residence should consider 511la.org

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"On Property" Insurance Claim Tips Blog

Tips and advice about how to properly file and protect your property damage insurance claim and get a fair settlement. We invite all readers to ask questions about their claim so our public adjusters can post answers for others to benefit. Insurance claim expert guest bloggers welcome to submit posts via our contact form.

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Local Office

Tutwiler & Associates Public Adjusters, Inc.
Licensed Public Insurance Adjusters & Loss Consultants
Offices: Tampa, Orlando, Palm City, Ft. Myers, Florida; Dallas, TX; Pittsburgh, PA

Executive Office
4300 W. Cypress St.
Suite 780
Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: 813.287.8090
Toll Free: 800.321.4488

Licensed in Florida # W840088 &
Texas #1399706 plus 16 other states
and the Virgin Islands