In Florida, 15 counties, including Orange County, where Meadow Woods is located, were under a compulsory evacuation order for Hurricane Milton. The orders were for Evacuation Zones A, B, and C and all regional mobile homes. Admission to these areas was instantly prohibited until October 10, 2024. Once access was allowed again, the number one priority for local and state authorities was leading search and rescue operations.
Authorities are also assessing the damages caused by Hurricane Milton and strongly discourage traveling if feasible. As homeowners and company owners have been able to go back to their houses, they have seen the destruction generated by the hurricane. This has led to an overflow in Hurricane Milton insurance claims, increasing the processing time for claims.
“It is normal to feel shaken and overwhelmed in the aftermath of a destructive hurricane. Employing an insurance claim lawyer can be very beneficial during this traumatic time. Consider calling us to help you take note of the damages and file your hurricane damage claim,” says Chase P. Florin.
What Are Your Options If Your Home Is Affected by Hurricane Milton?
The first thing you need to do after Hurricane Milton is to ensure you and your family are okay. Meadow Woods will be going to need time to recuperate from the destruction caused by the hurricane, and the following actions can help you recover from the hurricane as well:
Document All Damage
First, it is important to know that having hurricane damage from two hurricanes means filing two separate insurance claims. This can be difficult when the hurricanes hit in a short amount of time. Make sure that the damage you are reporting is from Hurricane Milton.
Contact Your Provider
When you contact your insurance agent, having all the evidence of Hurricane Milton’s destruction on hand will help immensely. Remember that storm, flood, and wind damage may all be individual policies, and you must submit each policy that is applicable.
Patch What You Can
Once Hurricane Milton has passed, obtaining permanent materials to fix damage to your house and other properties may take time. Right now, it is essential to ensure you can construct temporary repairs. This will help defend the undamaged parts of your home and belongings against further destruction while allowing an insurance adjuster to examine the damage.
Read Your Homeowner’s Policy
Review your homeowner’s policy when possible and familiarize yourself with anything that may apply to your present circumstances. This will help you get a picture of what you are going to pay out of pocket.
Get Damage Assessed
After you have started the Hurricane Milton claim process, an insurance adjuster will be sent to your house or company to examine the damage. They will estimate what they think your damage will cost to replace or fix. You can also employ a third-party adjuster for an alternate opinion.
Get Government Assistance
The aftermath of a hurricane can be chaotic, and it can be challenging to know what assistance the government can provide. Meadow Hills and Orange County will have details specific to residents and Floridians about the support they can apply for. Keep an eye on local social media pages, county and state websites for FEMA applications, and other associations that help people recuperate from natural disasters.
If you are worried about your hurricane damage insurance application or would like assistance with filing for help, call the Florin|Roebig attorneys today. As natives of Florida, we know exactly what you are going through.
What Damages Can A Hurricane Like Milton Cause?
Hurricane Milton’s storm surge was not as high as predicted, but the destruction was still extensive. Knowing what was destroyed and how is essential when readying to file your Hurricane Milton insurance claim. Each insurance policy will have procedures for processing and disbursing a person’s compensation.
Wind Damage
The incredibly high-force winds that carried Hurricane Milton ashore were strong and damaging. They tore apart buildings, peeled roofs off structures, and struck down trees and powerlines. There were not only the very destructive winds, but the hurricane spawned 38 tornadoes.
Water Damage And Flooding
The storm surge, reportedly 13 feet high, accompanied the destructive winds and caused significant destruction from Hurricane Milton. At least 18 inches of rain contributed to disastrous flooding. Water damage from this hurricane will still concern residents of Meadow Woods months down the road as mold and structural issues take hold.
Structural Damage
While some buildings might endure the winds, floods, and dramatic storm surge, residents of Florida who are affected by Hurricane Milton are urged to look for damage to building foundations, which can make structures excessively unsafe.
Personal Property Damage
A major disaster, including a hurricane, leaves behind significant damage. This includes buildings, landscapes, and personal belongings such as electronics, furniture, clothing, etc. It is important to document any serial numbers or identifying information when filing your claim.
Landscaping And Exterior Property Damage
It is exceptionally challenging for outside property and landscaping to endure a hurricane like Hurricane Milton unharmed. The winds alone can pull plants up and rip buildings apart, not to mention the flood and surge waters.
Secondary Issues
While the immediate issues caused by a hurricane are obvious, it is essential not to overlook secondary matters—wind and water damage to buildings, causing mold and structural problems. The longer a structure is exposed to weather, animals, or other people, the more destruction is likely to happen.
Not knowing how a hurricane claim is processed can cost you the settlement you need to repair your damages. You cannot rely solely on your insurance provider to tell you what to claim for the correct compensation. After a major storm, insurance corporations will be paying lots of money to pay out claims, so they will have no problem shortchanging your claim. Employing a hurricane damage lawyer is critical to getting the settlement you need.
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How Did Hurricane Milton Affect Meadow Woods?
Hurricane Milton ravaged Florida when it blew across the state, causing massive destruction for residents to deal with. While some places were struck harder than others, many areas are working to recuperate from two hurricanes that happened so close together.
In Orange County, severe winds and very heavy rains were the most impactful parts of the hurricane’s arrival. A torn-down powerline in the flood water killed one person, and search and rescue teams have been saving people trapped by the flood waters.
The highly damaging winds tore down powerlines, leaving people without electricity and creating deadly situations. Fences were knocked over, and trees were dragged from the ground. The flood waters have caused dangerous circumstances: drifting and hidden debris in the water, displaced predators, such as alligators and crocodiles, and venomous snakes.
Helene and Meadow Woods
Hurricane Milton’s devastation was made much more destructive by the damage already left by a separate hurricane only a few weeks earlier. Hurricane Helene ripped through Florida, making many regions of Florida even more helpless to Hurricane Milton.
There were many structures and buildings across Orange County were stranded without power, and many trees and powerlines were struck down. Hurricane Helene caused significant electrical hazards and blocked roadways. Thankfully, there was minimal flooding in the Orange County region.
Since Orange County suffered little destruction, first responders from all over the county were dispatched to northern Florida, where the brunt of the damage was.
What to Do if Your Insurance Claim Is Denied After a Hurricane
Insurance corporations are often under a lot of stress when paying thousands upon thousands of claims after a natural disaster like Hurricane Milton. A side effect of this is rejecting rightful claims. It is valuable to know the typical reasons for rejection to help keep your hurricane damage claim from being rejected.
Insurance providers may reject a storm damage claim because:
- You need more evidence. You may get a rejection letter if you need more visual evidence of the damage and proof of their value.
- Your policy does not cover the property or type of destruction. If your insurance policy does not shield against anything you need to claim, or you do not have the proper kind of policy for the destruction you received, your insurance company will not cover it.
- The damage has no obvious origin. Establishing that something covered by your insurance policy caused it is necessary.
If your insurance claim is rejected, you will receive a rejection letter in the mail. This letter will clarify the grounds for the denial, so review it and see if their grounds are valid under your insurance policy terms. You can use this information to file an appeal, and if your appeal is rejected, you can employ a Florin|Roebig lawyer to help you fight the rejection.
The aftermath of a hurricane is overwhelming, so the last thing you need to do is spend any energy disputing your claim with your insurance company for the money you anticipate and need. The Florin|Roebig lawyers are ready to take on this job on your behalf so that you can concentrate on more important things.
How Can a Hurricane Damage Lawyer Help?
When you employ a hurricane damage attorney in Meadow Woods in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, you guarantee that a devoted team of lawyers takes care of your hurricane insurance claim.
- Collect proof, including clear pictures and video recordings, repair estimates, and expert opinions, to help bolster your claims.
- Speak insurance company lingo and negotiate the highest settlement for your Hurricane Milton damage available under your policy coverage.
- Take it to court if your insurance company declines to cooperate.
The lawyers of Florin|Roebig have spent decades working with insurance corporations and are cognizant of their bad-faith methods, so they are ready to champion your hurricane damage claim.
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How To Get Help From Florin|Roebig Attorneys
If a hurricane in Florida has affected you or a floured one, you may be attempting to file an insurance claim. These insurance claims are important to people whose lives have been upended by the hurricane and who are trying to recuperate their sense of normalcy.
Florin|Roebig has a long and successful record of representing hurricane damage claims for clients throughout Florida. U.S. News and World Report and “Best Lawyers in America” have selected Florin | Roebig annually as one of the “Best Law Firms in America.”
Our law firm has succeeded in winning over $1 billion to date, and we are proud to be chosen by those who need our help. Our experience in insurance litigation has made our firm adept at negotiating with insurance companies to guarantee our clients receive maximum compensation.
To get in touch with the triple board-certified lawyers at Florin|Roebig, use the following methods today:
- Call our phone number 24/7
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- Reach out via the form on the contact page
