Many people might be surprised that having an adjuster look at your damage after a storm like Hurricane Milton is only the beginning of the insurance claim process. 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 when there are so many claims to adjust, there is a shortage of qualified adjusters, and they are hard pressed to get to as many claims as possible. Ask 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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Florida homeowners with severe damage from Hurricane Milton to the extent that their residence is uninhabitable, may have an insurance policy that provides a coverage called “Additional Living Expense” or “A.L.E.” if it is a covered loss. Under the Additional Living Expense coverage, you and your family may be entitled to rent another home of the same size, like kind and quality as well as be reimbursed for any extra expenses you incur such as food and temporary lodging.

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As recovery efforts continue in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Milton has now formed and is projected to bring heavy rainfall and potential flooding to parts of Florida in the coming days. We’ve already received calls from clients in Jacksonville, and we anticipate more to come. Many of my neighbors here on the coast of Clearwater, still dealing with Helene's aftermath, are planning to evacuate as early as Monday in preparation for Milton’s potential impact.
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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.

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It already appears 2024 will be a very active hurricane season. It’s still not to late to secure your property, make needed repairs, take photos of personal property and pre-loss property conditions. If you do experience a loss here’s 3 things you can do to make your insurance claim, go smoother.
1. Report your claim to your insurer in a timely manner. 
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Dick Tutwiler the Founder and Emeritus CEO of Tutwiler & Associates Public Adjusters was recently featured here on the Homeowners Be Aware podcast. During the interview, he provides some great insight into dealing with property insurance claims and some of the hurdles policyholders will face. If you have a favorite podcast platform, simply search "Homeowners Be Aware." The podcast can also be found on website: https://homeownersbeaware.com/  
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Insurance is a cornerstone of risk management, especially when it comes to safeguarding valuable assets like property. However, the concepts of Estimated Maximum Loss (EML) and Probable/Possible Maximum Loss (PML) have been causing ripples of discontent among policyholders. Let's delve into what these terms mean and why they are becoming a concern, especially for commercial clients such as hotels and apartment complexes. 
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Since Hurricane Idalia impacted Florida’s west coast, our public adjusters have been besieged with questions about flood claims. I also noticed from initial state claims data that many claims are being closed without payment. This may be due to policyholders not understanding what is covered under their homeowner's policy vs. their flood policy, if they have one. We are receiving concerning feedback from policyholders who are feeling frustrated in the initial stages of the claims process, especially from the moment they report their first notice of loss.  

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Power outages will be an unavoidable reality for policyholders who are impacted by Hurricane Idalia. While some outages last only a few minutes, others can stretch on for days, causing considerable inconvenience and financial loss. From spoiled food in the refrigerator to potential business losses, the aftermath can be burdensome. This brings up an essential question: Does your insurance policy cover losses stemming from a power outage? Here's what you need to know about power outage insurance claims
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Here is what we are seeing and advice on how property owners can handle and avoid potential problems with their flood and wind insurance claims.  As tremendous losses continue to mount, many recovering from Hurricane Ian are realizing their insurance companies are not paying policy limits for flood and wind claims, as reported by the Cape Coral Breeze in an article on October 14, 2022. Officials told a crowd of several dozen to stay persistent in working with National Flood insurance companies on getting reimbursement and compensation for work to repair homes, while other owners we have spoken to have already received denial letters. 
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