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Hurricane Irma: DOCUMENT now to Speed Recovery After the Storm

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Based on 20 years of handling building insurance claims:

To speed up recovery on your building insurance claims after Hurricane Irma the main action you need to take? DOCUMENT EVERYTHING BEFORE AND AFTER THE STORM

Before you evacuate, photograph and video the condition of your building and contents. Do this before you evacuate.

Photograph and video damage before ANY clean-up. After the storm has passed and you are safe, when you return to the property, photograph and video the condition of the property before touching ANYTHING—debris, downed trees, ruined building interiors and contents should all be photographed before this evidence is moved or thrown away.

Report insurance claims as soon as possible and document the date of reporting. Insurance claims are first come, first serve. Report your insurance claims (wind and flood) in writing by fax or email if at all possible directly to your insurance company, not just to your agent. If not, and you must report the claim by phone, put the call center on speaker phone, let them know you are video recording the call, and ask them to acknowledge the date. Do not speculate on the scope and extent of wind or flood damages. Flood damages are not covered under most homeowners and commercial property insurance policies, and you will need a separate flood policy for that. You can describe the damage as a lay person, but in terms of pinpointing the cause, tell the insurer you are not an engineer or a contractor. Get the insurance company’s permission to discard any ruined contents or building materials.  

Protect your property from further damage. Once you have photographed and videoed the condition of your roof (do this before anyone walks on the roof!), protect your property from further damage by putting a tarp over any openings.  Board up windows and begin drying out the building as soon as possible. Beware of predatory contractors and remediation companies.  Get referrals to reputable, licensed and insured contractors.

Register with FEMA early. If you need temporary housing assistance, contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. Again, it is first come, first serve, so do so immediately after reporting your insurance claims.

Free consultations ~ Call us at (813) 223-2929 or email us at [email protected]. Should you need help hiring qualified experts to document your building damages, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. We have great property damage lawyers.

Chris Ligori


Chris Ligori is a top personal injury attorney, fighting for victims in cases from car accidents to wrongful death. A former prosecutor and insurance defense lawyer, he uses insider knowledge to secure justice. With over 100 trials to verdict, Chris is a trusted advocate and sought-after legal expert.