What to do after a Hurricane
In the aftermath of a major hurricane, taking fast, structured action is critical to protecting your family, your property, and your financial recovery. Navigating the property insurance claims process can feel overwhelming, but following these key steps will help ensure you receive the full compensation you are owed under your policy.
Use this step-by-step checklist to guide your recovery process and protect your rights.
Step 1: Ensure Immediate Safety & Secure the Property
Before focusing on insurance claims, prioritize physical safety and prevent further damage:
Assess Local Hazards: Inspect your home and yard carefully for immediate dangers, such as downed power lines, gas leaks, structural instability, or standing water near electrical outlets.
Make Temporary Emergency Repairs: If safe to do so, cover broken windows, patch roof leaks, or board up exposed walls to prevent secondary water or weather damage.
How Montiel Hodge Helps: We work directly with trusted local contractors who provide emergency roof tarping and bill your insurance company directly, taking the upfront financial burden off your shoulders.
Step 2: Document Every Detail Thoroughly
Comprehensive evidence is the backbone of a successful hurricane property damage claim:
Capture Photos and Video: Take extensive, high-resolution photos and videos of all exterior and interior damage before clearing debris or making temporary repairs.
Itemize Damaged Contents: Create a detailed list of all lost or damaged personal belongings. Be sure to include spoiled food items in refrigerators and freezers resulting from extended power outages.
Gather Proof of Purchase: Collect receipts, credit card statements, or original documents for damaged high-value property whenever available.
Track Additional Living Expenses (ALE): Keep detailed records and receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable, including hotel stays, temporary rentals, and food costs.
Step 3: File Your Claim & Secure Policy Documents
Report the Loss Promptly: Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to file your claim and obtain a official claim number.
Request Full Policy Copies: Ask your provider or agent for complete, certified copies of your current insurance contract, declarations page, and all policy endorsements.
Monitor the Adjuster Inspection: Ensure the insurance company sends an adjuster to evaluate your property in a timely manner. Accompany them during their walkthrough to point out all visible damage.
Step 4: Obtain Independent Estimates
Do not rely solely on the insurance adjuster's initial scope of loss or pricing estimates:
Review the Insurer’s Estimate: Carefully examine the insurance company’s report for missing damage, understated repair costs, or incorrect material quality.
Get Independent Contractor Quotes: Secure repair estimates from licensed, reputable contractors to establish the true cost of rebuilding or restoring your property.
Proactive Support: Montiel Hodge partners with qualified contractors to ensure fair, realistic repair estimates are submitted promptly, forcing the insurer to address actual labor and material costs.
Step 5: Enforce Timely Payment & Your Rights Under Law
Insurance laws establish strict timelines and obligations for insurance companies following a disaster:
Track the Statutory Payment Window: Insurance companies are required by state law to pay valid claims within a specific timeframe (often within 60 days of receiving satisfactory proof of loss).
Beware of Bad Faith Delays: If an insurer arbitrarily, capriciously, or without reasonable cause delays or denies payment, you may be legally entitled to statutory penalties and attorney’s fees.
Issue a Notice to Cure: When an insurer underpays, delays, or wrongfully denies a claim, formal legal action—such as filing a statutory Notice to Cure—can compel them to pay what you are owed.
Struggling with Your Hurricane Claim?
You don't have to handle insurance disputes alone. If your insurer is delaying your claim, offering a lowball settlement, or failing to pay within the legally required timeframe, Montiel Hodge is here to enforce your rights.
Contact Montiel Hodge today for a claim evaluation and ensure your insurer fulfills its obligations under your policy.