Know When to Call a Hurricane Damage Claim Public Adjuster
Although statistics may vary, most experts agree that hurricanes are the most expensive natural disaster. The list is long and overwhelming, but simply looking at the top five storms by cost of loss can give us a snapshot of what these storms have totaled in our recent history.
At the top of that list is Hurricane Katrina that hit the Louisiana Coast in 2005 with a staggering cost of 161 billion dollars.
Second was Hurricane Harvey which slammed into Texas in 2017 with a cost of 125 billion dollars.
The third also hit in 2017, Hurricane Maria, damaging Puerto Rico and the lower US, and costing 90 billion dollars.
Hurricane Sandy was number four, affecting the US, Caribbean, and Canada in 2012 and costing 71 billion dollars.
And finally, at number five was Hurricane Irma impacting the US, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, costing 50 billion dollars.
What types of damage do hurricane winds cause? How does this change from Category 1 to Category 5?
There have been many hurricanes and natural disasters that have affected the United States in the past, and today is no different. But because of population growth and economic inflation they are predicted to cost more each year. Hurricane damages are especially widespread with differing types of damage occurring depending on the storm category and areas that are affected.
Hurricanes can be rated anywhere between a Tropical Storm to a Category 5 Hurricane. A tropical storm is a rapidly moving storm system around a Low-Pressure System with strong winds and bands of thunderstorms with winds from 39-70 MPH. A Category 1 will have winds between 74-95 MPH. Category 2 hurricanes have winds between 96-110 MPH. A Category 3 hurricane will have winds between 111-129 MPH and will be considered a major hurricane. A Category 4 hurricane is projected to have winds between 130-156 MPH. Finally, the strongest hurricanes are considered Category 5 and have winds at 157 MPH or higher. What exactly do these numbers mean anyway? Below is a table with more information on the rating of a hurricane with more detailed descriptions of types of damage expected for each category.
At ground zero of the eye of a hurricane between a Category 3 to 5 there is usually visible total destruction, but moving outward from the storm’s center the damage is harder to determine; this is where an expert is needed. An expert can determine what the damages are and what it will take to bring the property back to pre-loss conditions.
My property has recently suffered hurricane damage. Can you help?
If your property has suffered from hurricane damage, contact D.A. Lamont Public Adjusters to inspect your property and represent you in your Hurricane Damage insurance claim process. We strive to bring you peace of mind in times of disaster, and ensure that you receive the coverage you are owed. We are your experts in hurricane damage, and any other large property loss and roof assessment needs.
*Adapted from an excerpt of Don Lamont’s best-selling book, Storm Damage Assessment: A Practical Guide for Assessing Storm Damage, which can be purchased here: tinyurl.com/stormdamageassessmentc