When hurricane damage strikes, knowing what steps to take can be overwhelming. The Houston insurance claims attorneys at Haun Mena provide this guide to hurricane property damage and repairs.
Is It Safe To Return Home After a Hurricane?
Check with authorities and use common sense about returning home.
Watch for:
- Flooded or washed away roads, objects in the roads
- Downed power lines
- Water near the home
- Fire damage
- Tree or other objects resting on the home
- Home shifting, leaning, sagging
- Roof damage
- Foundation cracks, other structural damage
- Gas leaks, hissing sound
- Carbon monoxide leaks
- Mold, sewage
- Rodents, insects, and other animals
Look for trip-and-fall hazards both in and around the home. If the home has structural damage, wait for a building inspector to tell you it’s safe to enter.
How to Safely Inspect Your Home After a Hurricane
Once it’s safe to enter the home, inspect it thoroughly. If the home is wet, shut off the electricity first. Turn off the water if you suspect you may have damaged pipes.
Wear personal protective equipment, such as a mask, gloves, and safety goggles. Use disposable coveralls if necessary, and wear sturdy shoes.
If you need light, use battery-powered flashlights. Never use candles.
Look for cracks, dents, and breaks. Check for sagging ceilings or floors and discoloration. Look for signs of water presence and fire damage. Check whether the wires are frayed and whether the pipes are damaged.
As you walk through the home, take photos and videos. Inspect each room from top to bottom and from all angles. Most importantly, proceed with caution.
What Photos and Evidence To Gather After Hurricane Damage
To document hurricane property damage:
Check exterior, interior, and personal property
Take photos and videos of the home’s exterior and interior. Take photos and videos of damaged personal property. Make sure these images are time-stamped.
Look in cabinets and behind doors
Check for hidden damage behind closed cabinet doors, in closets, under beds, and behind furniture. Look in drawers. Check appliances for damage.
Document debris
Document debris in and around the home.
Find pre-damage photos
Look for photos of your home’s condition before damage. You may have candid photos on your phone that show the home and its contents in the background. There may also be pre-damage photos from a real estate listing.
Create an inventory
Make a list of damages, including to the home and to personal property. Identify the damage, apparent nature, value, when the item was purchased, and cost. Gather as many details as possible.
Keep records
As you incur expenses, keep records. This includes costs to mitigate damage, such as tarps, personal protective equipment for cleaning, and supplies. Track housing expenses, meals, transportation, and incidentals.
Know what to keep
Dispose of certain items as soon as you have photos and videos. Examples include water-damaged linens and disposable items ruined by floodwater. Damaged furniture, mattresses, carpet, and drywall may require prompt removal for safety reasons. Report the damage to the insurance company immediately. If the insurance company doesn’t quickly inspect the home, take time-stamped photos and video, and discard hazardous items.
How To File a Hurricane Property Damage Claim
Most insurance companies take claims online and through their apps. You may also start your claim by phone. Make the claim to the insurance company that you have hurricane insurance with.
You’ll provide your name, the address of the damage, and the nature of the claim. Eventually, you’ll give them a more detailed inventory of damage. Don’t delay reporting, even if you don’t have all of the loss information yet.
How Long Do You Have to File a Hurricane Damage Claim?
In Texas, you generally have one year to file a hurricane damage claim. The time limit begins to run on the date of loss (§ 2210.573). Then, you have two years to start a legal action, running from the date of notice of claim denial. (§ 2210.577).
What To Do If Your Hurricane Insurance Claim Is Denied
If your hurricane insurance claim is denied, you may:
- Request a detailed determination of loss
- Request an appraisal
- File a legal action
Check your insurance policy and talk to an attorney about how to proceed. You may have a voluntary arbitration endorsement that applies to dispute proceedings (See § 2210.554).
Mediation or a settlement conference may be required. An attorney for hurricane property damage can explain what to expect.
Hurricane Damage Repair: What You Need To Know
Here are several things to know about what to do after a hurricane:
Additional Living Expenses (ALE)
When hurricane damage occurs, it’s common to be displaced from your home. You might have expenses for housing, food, pet boarding, storage, transportation, and other incidentals. Additional Living Expenses (ALE) is the type of insurance that covers these losses. Look for it in your homeowner’s policy.
Contractor scams
Be cautious of hurricane damage repair scams. Be suspicious of contractors asking for large deposits up front. Verify damage and get multiple quotes before agreeing on a price. Never sign a contract with blanks in it. When you’re evaluating a repair proposal, ask yourself if the offer is reasonable and straightforward.
Note: FEMA doesn’t endorse or certify private contractors. It doesn’t cost anything to apply for FEMA aid.
Actual cash value vs. replacement value
In your insurance claim, you may see the terms actual cash value and replacement value. Actual cash value coverage pays the value of the item lost, even if used. If you have replacement value coverage, it covers the cost to replace damaged items of the same quality. The difference can be substantial.
Deductibles
You may have a higher deductible for hurricane damage than for other types of coverage.
Types of insurance
Several types of insurance coverage may apply after a hurricane:
- Homeowners insurance for wind damage
- Flood insurance for storm surge and flash flood damage
- Windstorm for extra insurance, common in coastal areas
- Comprehensive auto for vehicle damage
Note that there is a difference between flood damage and wind damage. It’s not all one broad category of hurricane coverage. Instead, coverage is categorized and paid according to the type of loss.
Duties after loss
Check the section of your insurance policy entitled “Duties After Loss.” You may need to take steps to prevent additional damage. Examples include using tarps and sealing up broken windows.
When Should You Hire an Attorney for Hurricane Property Damage?
You should hire an attorney for hurricane property damage if:
- The loss is significant
- You need to mitigate damage
- Multiple types of insurance coverage are involved
- The insurance company won’t adequately investigate the claim
- Appraisals will be important for valuing loss
- The claim has been denied
- You’re not sure of the claim’s value
- You want help with your claim
Having a lawyer can be key to getting the compensation that you deserve.
How a Houston Property Damage Attorney Can Help Maximize Your Claim
At Haun Mena, our Houston property damage attorneys know what to do after a hurricane. Our attorneys manage the claim with the insurance company, and we file claims in court.
To see how a Houston property damage attorney for hurricanes can help you, contact us now.
