As a follow-up to our insurance claim tips blog post yesterday, some of the calls and reports we are receiving in the aftermath of Hurricane Debby are quite alarming. Residents of the Lakewood Ranch community are reporting extensive flood damage to homes and cars, along with critical care needs due to heart attacks, electrocutions, and other emergencies that have tragically resulted in loss of life. Property owners are stuck in their homes, waiting for the waters to recede, and many are concerned about their coverage since these inland communities, which haven't experienced flooding in over 30 years, are not near the coast. While automobiles will likely be covered, expensive damages to homes may result in numerous liability claims against developers and possibly municipalities. This is an ongoing critical situation, and we are working to assist those calling in need of help.

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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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Our firm was happy to contribute to the June Florida Community Association Journal Hurricane Preparedness issue. Below is our article plus here’s a link to many more expert articles on disaster prep.
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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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Congratulations to ABC Action News ITeam reporters for clearly explaining the state of Florida’s Property Insurance situation in their Florida Insurance Disaster show. There are still home and business owners battling their insurance companies trying to rebuild. While we applaud Florida’s My Safe Florida Home Program and the recent fine of an insurer not complying with claim regulations during Hurricane Ian, much more can be done to give policyholders an avenue to resolve disputes, hold unresponsive insurers accountable and require insurers have the financial staying power to withstand the serious storms that will come. Follow ABC’s continuing coverage of the Insurance Crisis in Florida.  

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The Last House Standing  by Director - Producer George Siegal, is a documentary film that explores why we continue to place cost over safety, while the technology exists to build homes capable of withstanding hurricanes, fires, and tornadoes. The film explores the challenges of post storm recovery and features an interview with our founder, Dick Tutwiler. Watch the Film Here
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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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When disaster strikes, such as the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma, businesses are often left grappling with significant damage including property, inventory, and business interruption. For many, these damages can lead to crippling financial burdens, especially if they are not properly compensated by their insurance providers. In such situations, the role of a licensed professional public insurance adjuster can be pivotal. 
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It's been a year since Hurricane Ian unleashed its fury on Florida, battering both coastlines and wreaking havoc on agricultural and urban areas in between.  An event that should have subsided in its aftermath has instead metamorphosed into a year-long saga of pain, resistance, and a battle for policyholder insurance claim justice as countless victims remain ensnared in an unnatural whirlwind: the struggle for fair compensation and treatment in the claim adjustment process.  
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