In Florida, 15 counties, including Hernando County, where Spring Hill is located, were under a mandatory evacuation order for Hurricane Milton. The orders were for Evacuation Zones A, B, and C and all mobile homes in the area. Access to these areas was immediately restricted 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 at all possible. As homeowners and business owners have been able to return to their homes, they have seen the damage caused by the hurricane. This has led to a surge in Hurricane Milton insurance claims, causing the processing time for claims to increase significantly.
“You may feel overwhelmed as you return to your home and see the damage left behind. Remember that hiring an insurance claim attorney can be of great value when working through this traumatic time. Consider giving us a call to help you catalog damages and file your claim,” says Chase P. Florin.
What Are Your Options If Your Home Is Affected by Hurricane Milton?
The most important thing after Hurricane Milton is to make sure that you and your loved ones are safe. Spring Hill will have to take time to recover from the hurricane damage, and the following steps can help you recover from the hurricane as well:
Document All Damage
First, it is essential to understand that having hurricane damage from two separate hurricanes means you will need to file two separate insurance claims. This can be a challenge when the hurricanes have hit so close together. Ensure that the damage you are documenting is from Hurricane Milton.
Contact Your Provider
When you call your insurance representative, it will be helpful to have all the documentation of Hurricane Milton’s damage on hand. Keep in mind that storm damage, flood damage, and wind damage may all be separate policies, and you will need to submit each policy that applies.
Patch What You Can
After Hurricane Milton, it may take a while to get your hands on permanent materials for repairing damage to your home and other properties. Right now, it is important to make sure that you can make temporary repairs. This will help protect the undamaged parts of your home and belongings while allowing an insurance adjuster to inspect the damage.
Read Your Homeowner’s Policy
When you can, make sure you reread your homeowner’s policy and familiarize yourself with anything that may apply to your current situation. This will help you gain an idea of what you will have to pay out of pocket.
Get Damage Assessed
Once you have begun the Hurricane Milton claim process, an insurance adjuster will be sent to your home or business to investigate the damage. They will quote what they think your damage will cost to replace or repair. You can also hire a third-party adjuster for a second opinion.
Get Government Assistance
This can be a chaotic time for people, and it can be difficult to understand what assistance they can receive from the government. Spring Hill and Hernando County will have information specific to locals and Floridians about the help they can apply for. Keep an eye on local social media pages and county and state websites for access to FEMA applications and other organizations that help people recover from natural disasters.
If you are concerned about your insurance application or would like help filing for assistance, contact Florin|Roebig today. We understand precisely what you are going through.
What Damages Can A Hurricane Like Milton Cause?
While Hurricane Milton’s storm surge was less than initially predicted, the damage was still extensive. When preparing to file your Hurricane Milton insurance claim, it is critical to understand what was damaged and how it was damaged. Each policy will have its own guidelines on processing and paying a person’s compensation.
Wind Damage
The extremely high-force winds that brought Hurricane Milton ashore were powerful and damaging. They ripped apart buildings, peeled roofs off buildings, and knocked down trees and powerlines. Not only were there damaging winds, but the hurricane also spawned 38 tornadoes.
Water Damage And Flooding
The 13-foot storm surge that accompanied the winds caused significant damage from Hurricane Milton. At least 18 inches of rain contributed to catastrophic flooding. Water damage from this storm will still affect residents of Spring Hill months down the line as mold and foundational problems take hold.
Structural Damage
While some structures may survive the winds, floods, and storm surge, Floridians affected by Hurricane Milton are encouraged to look for damage to building foundations, which can make structures extremely unsafe.
Personal Property Damage
When a natural disaster occurs, such as a hurricane, it leaves behind major destruction. This includes buildings and landscapes and personal belongings such as electronics, furniture, clothing, and more.
Landscaping And Exterior Property Damage
It is incredibly difficult for exterior property and landscaping to survive a hurricane like Hurricane Milton unscathed. The winds alone can rip plants up and tear buildings apart, not to mention the flood and surge waters.
Secondary Issues
While the primary issues caused by a hurricane are apparent, it is important not to forget about secondary issues. Wind and water damage buildings, causing mold and structural issues. The longer a structure is exposed to the elements, the more damage is likely to occur.
Not understanding how a hurricane claim works can end up costing you the compensation you need to repair your damages. You cannot rely on your insurance company to make sure you claim the correct compensation. After a natural disaster, insurance companies will be spending lots of money to pay out claims, so they will have no problem shortchanging your claim. Hiring a hurricane damage attorney is crucial to getting the compensation you need.
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How Did Hurricane Milton Affect Spring Hill?
Hurricane Milton devastated Florida when it swept across the state, leaving massive amounts of damage in its wake. While some areas of Florida were hit harder than others, many parts of Florida are struggling to recover from two hurricanes so close together.
In Hernando County, the areas more inland were harder hit than Hernando Beach, Bayport, Aripeka, and Weeki Wachee. Inland areas were hit with damaging winds that tore down powerlines, leaving people without electricity and creating deadly situations.
Along with the downed powerlines, fences were blown over, and trees were ripped from the ground. The flood waters have created dangerous conditions: floating and hidden debris in the water, displaced predators like alligators and crocodiles, as well as venomous snakes.
Helene and Spring Hill
Hurricane Milton’s damage was only compounded by being hit by a different hurricane only weeks prior. Hurricane Helene ripped through Florida, leaving many areas much more vulnerable to Hurricane Milton.
Approximately 17,000 buildings and structures were left without power, and thirteen rescues were made. Hurricane Helene caused significant electrical hazards and flooded and blocked roadways. The storm surge for Helene was two to three feet higher than the storm surge for Idalia.
The flooding was so severe during Hurricane Helene that residents who rode out previous hurricanes have reconsidered doing so again after Helene. First-hand accounts said that water rose to five feet in their house within a matter of twenty minutes.
What to Do if Your Insurance Claim Is Denied After a Hurricane
Unfortunately, insurance companies are under a lot of pressure to pay thousands upon thousands of claims after a weather disaster like Hurricane Milton. A side effect of this is denying claims. To help prevent your claim from being rejected, it is helpful to understand the common reasons for denials.
Insurance companies may deny storm damage claims because:
- You do not have enough evidence. You may get a denial letter if you do not have enough visual evidence of the damage and proof of their value.
- Your policy does not cover the property or type of damage. If your insurance policy does not cover anything you claim, or you do not have the correct type of policy for the damage you received, your insurance provider will not cover it.
- There is no apparent source of the damage. It is crucial to prove that something covered by your insurance policy caused the damage.
In the event that your insurance claim is denied, you will receive a letter of rejection in the mail. This letter will explain the reason or reasons for the rejection, so be sure to check and see if their reasons are valid under your insurance policy terms. You can use this information to file an appeal, and if your appeal is denied, you can hire a Florin|Roebig attorney to help you dispute the denial.
The aftermath of a hurricane is stressful, so the last thing you need to do is spend any energy arguing with your insurance provider for the money you expect and need. The Florin|Roebig attorneys are prepared to take on this task on your behalf so that you can focus on more important things.
How Can a Hurricane Damage Lawyer Help?
When you hire a hurricane damage lawyer in Spring Hill in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, you ensure that a dedicated team of attorneys takes care of your insurance claim.
- Gather evidence, including clear photos and videos, repair appraisals, and expert opinions, to support your claims.
- Speak insurance company terminology and negotiate the highest compensation possible for your Hurricane Milton damage under your policy coverage.
- Take it to court if your insurance provider refuses to cooperate.
The attorneys of Florin|Roebig have spent decades working with insurance companies and are aware of their bad-faith tactics, so they are prepared to champion your hurricane damage claim.
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How to Get Help from Florin|Roebig Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been affected by a hurricane in Florida, you are likely trying to file an insurance claim. These claims are so important to people whose lives have been upended by the hurricane and who are trying to piece their normalcy back together.
Florin|Roebig has a long, successful record of managing hurricane damage claims for clients all across Florida. Florin|Roebig has been nominated annually by U.S. News and World Report and “Best Lawyers in America” as one of the “Best Law Firms in America.”
Our firm has won over $1 billion in its history, and we are proud to be chosen by those who need our help. Our experience in insurance litigation has made our firm proficient at negotiating with insurance companies to ensure clients receive maximum compensation.
Use the following methods to get in touch with the triple board-certified attorneys at Florin|Roebig today:
- Call our phone number 24/7
- Chat with us 24/7
- Reach out via the form on the contact page
