Hurricane & Tornado Insurance Claims
Catastrophe claims are different in kind, not just in scale. Separate deductibles apply, causation is contested, and the adjuster assigned to you is often working a very large caseload a long way from home.
What makes catastrophe claims different
- A separate deductible. Named-storm, hurricane and wind deductibles are frequently a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat amount — which can be far larger than the all-perils deductible people have in mind.
- Wind versus water. Where wind damage is covered and storm surge or flooding is excluded, causation determines coverage. When both occurred, that allocation is the whole argument.
- Surge capacity. Carriers deploy out-of-state catastrophe adjusters under heavy caseloads. Scope gets compressed under volume, and supplements become the norm rather than the exception.
- Emergency orders. After a declared disaster, insurance regulators frequently issue orders affecting grace periods, cancellation and notice requirements. Check your state department of insurance.
What to document
- Evidence of wind damage that pre-dates any water intrusion — openings created by wind are the link between the two.
- The full exterior envelope, not just the obvious failure.
- All emergency mitigation and its cost.
- Your declarations page, specifically which deductible applies to this event and how it is calculated.
Who to call, and what each one costs
Your insurance companyFree
First call, always. They assign an adjuster and issue any advance. The catastrophe adjuster assigned to you may be genuinely helpful — they also work for the insurer, which is a fact about the role, not an accusation about the person.
Your state Department of InsuranceFree
The most underused resource after a loss. They answer coverage questions, take complaints about claim handling, and confirm whether anyone contacting you is actually licensed. No cost, and they take no percentage of your recovery.
A public adjuster (that’s us)Paid
Represents you rather than the insurer, normally for a percentage of the claim agreed in writing before any work begins. Useful on scope disputes, contents inventories and undocumented depreciation — and not worth it on a small claim or a pure coverage dispute. See the questions below.
An attorneyPaid
Attorneys are there to litigate claims. That is the difference: a public adjuster works out the amount of the loss and negotiates it with the carrier; an attorney takes the carrier to court. If the carrier says the loss is not covered at all, or there is a question about causation or accusation, that is litigation and it belongs with a lawyer. A public adjuster is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice.
Common questions
Why is my hurricane deductible so much larger?
Named-storm and hurricane deductibles are commonly expressed as a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar amount, so they scale with the insured value. Check your declarations page for which deductible applies and how it is calculated.
The carrier says my damage was flood, not wind. Is that final?
No. Where both perils occurred, allocation between them is a factual question decided on evidence — including whether wind created the opening that admitted water. Ask in writing for the basis of the determination.
My claim has stalled since the storm. What can I do?
Put every request in writing and keep the replies. Your state department of insurance takes complaints about claim handling at no cost and takes no percentage of any recovery.
Request a claim review
Utah properties: contact us to discuss your claim.Kansas: commercial claims only.Send the basics and we will look at where your claim stands and tell you plainly what we see — including if the honest answer is that you are being treated fairly and do not need to hire anyone. There is no charge for the review and nothing to sign to get it.
Who wrote this, and what we get out of it
Public adjusting work is performed by William J. Addis, individually licensed in 18 states. Like nearly all public adjusters, we are paid a percentage of the claim, agreed in writing before any work begins and subject to any applicable state limits. There is no charge for the review itself. You should weigh that interest when reading anything here.
Free help exists too. Every state’s Department of Insurance assists policyholders with claims at no cost and takes no percentage of your recovery, and will confirm whether anyone contacting you is actually licensed — including us. See where we are licensed, and verify any public adjuster before hiring them.
This is general information, not advice. It is not legal advice, not an interpretation of your policy, and we are not a law firm. You have the right to negotiate your own claim directly with your insurer and the right to consult an attorney; you are not required to hire a public adjuster.
Our role, when we are engaged, is to help policyholders reach a fair and reasonable settlement of a covered loss under the terms of their own policy. Each claim turns on its own facts, policy language and jurisdiction. Kansas readers: under K.S.A. 40-5500 et seq., Kansas public adjusters are limited to first-party commercial property claims and may not represent residential homeowners.