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HURRICANE MILTON CLIENT EMAIL 1: 10.07.2024
Prepare for the Worst but Hope for the Best
From Chris Heidrick….
Most insurers have already implemented binding moratoriums that prohibit the binding of any new policies or policy changes until the Hurricane has passed.
Hurricane Milton is predicted to make landfall somewhere along Florida’s Gulf Coast Wednesday evening as a Major Hurricane. The exact location of the eye at landfall will make a significant difference in the amount of wind damage experienced.
Please note that hurricanes typically “wobble,” so despite predictions, this “wobble” can also have a significant impact on what areas receive the worst of a storm. We saw that with Hurricane Irma, where the storm shifted about 20 miles to the east at landfall, sparing the Lee County barrier islands from the worst that was predicted, and with Hurricane Ian where the Lee County barrier islands experienced the worst.
Take precautions now and assume the worst-case scenario. Due to the “wobble” no one will know where the worst effects will be felt until it is too late. However, as was seen in Hurricane Helene, flooding from storm surge can be felt far from the storm’s center. Current forecasts include significant storm-surge threats for much of Lee County…not just coastal areas.
Now is the time to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Here are some things we recommend you do:
• Take lots of photos of the interior and exterior of your home before the storm. This will help you to support any possible claims. Include the inside of drawers, cabinets and closets.
• Move any valuable items to elevated floors in your home to help protect them from possible flood damage.
• Secure any items on the exterior of your home such as trash cans, grills and patio furniture. It is a good idea to bring these items inside your home.
• If you have hurricane shutters, put them up as soon as possible. Some policies that cover the peril of Wind have higher deductibles or coverage restrictions if you have told the carrier that you have shutters but they are not installed prior to a storm making landfall.
• Monitor local weather forecasts and alerts from local government officials.
• Obey evacuation orders. You do not need to travel far. “Run from Flood, Hide from Wind.” That means evacuate out of a high-risk flood area and stay in a newer, concrete building to protect yourself from wind. Based on the current predictions, inland areas of Collier, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties or parts of Hendry county appear to be the best areas to consider at this time. Also consider bringing any valuable items with you. Note: Insurance policies do not cover the cost of evacuation.
Our team will be preparing today and tomorrow. Our Sanibel Office is now closed until the storm passes. At this time, we have not made decisions regarding our Fort Myers office, though it is likely that office will be closed Wednesday.
While many of our staff members are capable of working from home, we do not know how many will have power and internet during and after landfall. Lack of power and internet along with higher than normal call/email volume may impact our ability to respond to requests immediately. We therefore recommend you consider the following alternatives to filing a claim:
• Check our Website at www.sanibelinsurance.com. You will find a list of many of the insurance companies we work with and the corresponding phone numbers, emails and website links to make a first report of a claim. This is the fastest and most efficient way to report your claim.
• From our Website at www.sanibelinsurance.com click on “Submit a Claim” and report a claim to us. A member of our team can then report the claim to your insurer.
• Email the details of your claim to our office at [email protected] to report your claim. A member of our team will then report the claim to your insurer.
• You can call our office at (239) 579-0660. While we make every effort to answer as many calls as possible, calling our office may not be the most productive of these four options. Please be patient as we attempt to answer as many calls as possible and return as many voicemails and emails as possible.
Here are a few tips to address storm-related damage:
• Your policies require you to take reasonable care to prevent further damage. This may include removing wet contents or materials from your home and securing your home to prevent further damage. Your policies do not require you to take unreasonable action, so do not do anything that jeopardizes your health or safety or that contradicts official guidance from government officials.
• Take lots of photos before cleaning up or making emergency repairs. If you have Contents damage, please be sure to take photos and list damaged items, as this documentation will be needed to support a claim. If your home is not habitable and you need to relocate be sure to keep all receipts. Please know that most flood insurance policies, including all policies written through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) do not cover Additional Living Expenses, Business Interruption or Loss of Use.
• Some policies have restrictions or conditions regarding coverage for emergency repairs. Please consult your policy for specific coverage guidance.
We will issue additional updates to provide additional guidance as Hurricane Milton approaches and we know more.
We sincerely hope you and your family are safe. Thank you for being a client of Heidrick and Company Insurance!
After a significant storm, our office will be inundated with claims calls and emails. For a more efficient claims submission process, please consider filing directly with your insurance company. Note, not all insurance companies we represent are listed. We will continue to build this list.
If your insurance carrier is not listed below, please email [email protected] with details of your claim.