FILE - Leona Mangan of Lakeworth, Fla., holds a sign as she gathers with other supporters of former President Donald Trump outside his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Fla., March 21, 2023.
“You’re just traumatized when you have these losses. At some point, you’re just glad you’re alive,” said Don Hornstein, an insurance law expert at the University of North Carolina. “And then you have to turn to the business side of this. It’s tough.”Helene was a Category 4 storm that first struck Florida’s Gulf Coast on September 26, dumped trillions of gallons of rain and left a. At least 246 people have died in what is now the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S.
Moehring said she wasn’t sure about the details of her insurance policies and she’ll be relying on her son to help her navigate the claims process. Homeowners should weigh their options, as a minor payout may not be worth the long-term ding on your claims history. That’s especially true if you don’t have flood insurance, as the average home insurance policy covers wind damage but generally doesn’t cover flood damage.
“You may have evacuation costs, you may have business shut down interruption costs, you may have housing costs, you may have additional expenses that are unusual to your business," said Steve Powell, executive vice president of property and catastrophe for claims management firm Sedgwick. If there’s disagreement or concern about the accuracy or fairness of the adjuster’s report from the insurance company, property owners can consider hiring a public adjuster for a second opinion. Their own adjuster can then lead the negotiations with the insurance company. First, however, owners should be aware of the fees the public adjuster charges and check their references.