Joanna Szabo  |  July 10, 2021

Category: Disaster Help

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property damage from Tropical Storm Elsa

Tropical Storm Elsa hit north Florida with heavy rain on July 7, heading inland and traveling toward Georgia. While the center of Tropical Storm Elsa is only 45 mph, and therefore about 30 mph slower than a hurricane, the storm still threatens to do considerable damage to homes in the affected area, from wind damage to flooding.

When the storm had originally hit west-central Florida, winds of around 75 mph were recorded, the threshold to be classified as a hurricane.

As Tropical Storm Elsa continues to travel north, it may spread heavy rain, substantial winds, and possibly some tornadoes up the East Coast in the coming days.

Floridians are used to major weather events like Tropical Storm Elsa, and are often hit with far more powerful winds. Residents have made preparations for the storm, though Elsa is nothing like Hurricane Irma in 2017, a storm that devastated Florida and eight other U.S. states, flooding major cities and triggering evacuation orders for 5.6 million people.

Still, tropical storms like Elsa can cause significant damage, power outages, flooding, and deaths if people don’t properly prepare.

Property damage from a storm can be caused by a number of issues, including:

  • Water damage from flooding
  • Wind damage
  • Roof leaks
  • Broken water heaters
  • Pipe leaks

Preparation for a hurricane or tropical storm doesn’t just mean battening down the hatches, checking your food supply, and reviewing your evacuation plan. It should also mean making sure your insurance policy is in order.

Keep an eye out for how your policy treats flooding damage. Traditional homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood-related hurricane damage, but this can be purchased separately.

It’s important that, after a major weather event like a hurricane, you get started on the insurance process as soon as possible. This will start with immediately alerting the insurance company of the damage, and letting them know if you need emergency services. Make sure you document all the damage via photographs and videotape as soon as you can, as this will serve as evidence for your claim.

One way to prepare for this kind of event is by having a home inventory, making it easy for an insurance adjuster to determine what you lost and how much those items are worth. Pictures of damaged belongings and receipts can help. Make sure you don’t throw out any damaged items until the adjuster has documented them.  

In some cases, people affected by a storm like Tropical Storm Elsa may find that they are not fully or properly compensated for their insurance claim. Indeed, some insurers will do their level best to deny, delay, or shortchange policyholders rather than paying out what they’re due. In some cases, an insurer may try to deny a claim on the basis that the damage was due to flooding (even if you know it was caused by something else, such as wind damage) or that your policy doesn’t cover the damage (even if you know it should). These are situations in which consulting an experienced property damage lawyer can help.

Around 90% of flood claims from Hurricane Irma were denied, according to the Palm Beach Post.

If you were unfairly denied the entirety of your insurance claim, or if your claim was delayed or underpaid, you may be able to recover the money you’re owed with the help of a qualified property damage lawyer.

If your home or property experienced damage in Florida, a property damage lawyer can help maximize your compensation from the insurance company. Fill out the form on this page or follow the link below for more information.

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