Hurricane season is upon us. If a hurricane strikes, do you know what to do? Can you handle your insurance claim alone? Thankfully, there is no need to tackle your claims alone. Instead, hire Aftermath Adjusters and Consulting, a public adjuster in Florida, to help you get the settlement you deserve.
What Your Insurance Covers
If you reside in Florida and have experienced the devastation a hurricane brings, your family’s safety is your number one concern. Along with protecting your family, you are probably thinking about the restoration of your home, and whether your insurance policy covers hurricane damage.
Unfortunately, this can get complicated. Florida has been hit by seven of the ten most costly hurricanes in American history, six of which have struck within the span of two years. Consequently, many insurance companies have raised their hurricane and flood insurance rates considerably for Florida residents. Other insurers have simply discontinued doing business altogether in the State.
Extra Flood Coverage
To make matters even more problematic, most homeowner insurance policies only cover damage caused by hurricane winds. Flood damage caused by a hurricane is a completely different loss that requires separate coverage. Furthermore, since floods cause water and mold damage, the cost to remove and repair that damage is also not likely covered by your regular homeowner policy.
This is why, as a Florida homeowner, you will need a flood insurance policy that has catastrophic coverage for your property and belongings. These policies can be very expensive.
How To Get Flood Insurance
A homeowner can buy extra flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a FEMA operated organization. However, these policies have limits of $250,000 for residences and $500,000 for commercial properties. In addition to the NFIP, there are 20 insurance companies in Florida that write excess or primary flood insurance.
It is worth mentioning that the NFIP is struggling. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the program has a $1.4 billion deficit after underestimating the cost of claims by $1.1 billion. The remaining $300 million comes from the cost of providing discounted rates for some policies that cost more than what they receive in return. The receipts from surcharges created to help cover the cost of these discounts do not end up covering the cost enough.
There is also a state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation that Florida residents have access to. This covers homeowners who cannot find private insurance or live in high-risk areas.
How a Public Adjuster in Florida Can Help
Regardless of your insurance policy, hiring a public adjuster to work by your side will help immensely. Whether your property has wind or flood damage, their training helps you through the entire claims process.
Hiring a professional public adjuster in Florida can spot damage that may not be easily recognizable. They also have the expertise to assess the extent of your damage, value your claim, and help negotiate with your insurance provider.
Hurricane season can be unnerving, but you don’t have to go through it on your own. The expert team at Aftermath Adjusters & Consulting LLC is here to help. Our licensed public adjusting company in Florida is ready to help you recover and rebuild. Call us today to learn more.