The loss and damage caused by natural disasters, like Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Florence that hit the Gulf Coast and East Coast hard this year, can be devastating. Unfortunately, the problems caused by a hurricane can be even more long-lasting than homeowners expect, because making flood and hurricane insurance claims can be complex, time consuming, and frustrating.

In the event of a disaster like these extreme hurricanes, it is important to make sure that your insurance company offers fair compensation for damage to your home or business according to your policy, and to avoid as many out-of-pocket expenses as possible.

Flood and Hurricane Insurance

Hurricane Michael caused between $2 and $3 billion in wind damage in Florida alone, according to CoreLogic, a global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions company. Damage caused by the storm surge is covered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), adding approximately another $1 billion in damage, according to estimates.

From Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas and Virginia, people arefacing a total of $1.5 billion in wind damage, and up to $28.5 billion in flood damage, according to a CNN report. Unfortunately, many who live in the Carolinas chose not to carry flood insurance, thinking themselves safe from that particular issue, so an estimated $18.5 billion of that damage is actually uninsured.

Indeed, many of those affected by hurricanes Michael and Florence are finding that their flood and hurricane insurance is insufficient for what they need to address in the aftermath of the destruction. Some may find that while their insurance covers wind damage, it does not cover flood damage—the cause of much damage after the storms.

Making flood and hurricane insurance claims involves determining not only the amount of loss, but how much is covered, which can take considerable time as well as be an added headache. Of course, while all this is being dealt with, homeowners may also be dealing with being without a home for an extended period of time. In some cases, insurance companies can make the situation worse, delaying the claim or haggling with the homeowner over how much coverage they’ll receive.

Moving forward, flood and hurricane insurance claims for hurricanes Michael and Florence are expected to increase as homeowners and business owners take stock of damage.

While the majority of insurers are honest, they are in the business of collecting premiums rather than the business of paying claims—which means that homeowners need to be prepared to defend their claims by documenting their property before disasters as well as the extent of damage afterward.

If your home, business, or property was damaged by Hurricane Michael or Hurricane Florence, or another natural disaster, you may be able to join a disaster insurance claim investigation. In the wake of this kind of devastation, it’s essential that you make sure you’re getting the most out of your flood and hurricane insurance that you possibly can.