“Hurricane Sally Makes Landfall.” That is the headline we are seeing across every news station in Florida and beyond right now. Hurricane Sally touched down Wednesday morning, September 16th, as a Category 2 hurricane. By early morning the streets of Pensacola and 40 miles east to Fort Walton Beach were already flooded, had power outages, and full of debris.[1]
With up to 30 mph winds and continued record breaking rainfall of 24 inches there has been a substantial amount of damage in just under 24 hours. Into Thursday flooding continued to threaten the Florida Panhandle rising up to historic levels.[2]
What to Do If You Have Property Damage from Hurricane Sally
- Contact your insurance company to submit an insurance claim. Remember they are in business to make money and may be looking for reasons to deny your claim. Leave emotions and embellished statements out of all conversations with your insurance company. Keep it factual. Additionally, don’t guess if you don’t know the answer to a question they ask.
- An insurance company will send out a field adjuster to inspect your damage. Consider hiring someone to represent you.
- Itemize your losses and include copies of your receipts, especially for larger items, such as appliances, furniture, and expensive electronics.
- Your insurance company may require you to submit a Proof of Loss form. Be sure to submit this by the deadline.
The above tips are from our Complete Guide to Property Insurance. Download Our Complete Guide to Property Insurance to read this and other full articles such as: Property Insurance Terminology, Filing an Insurance Claim, Problems with Your Insurance Claim, and Hiring CORE Public Adjusters.
As Property Adjusters we see time and time again weather-related damage impacting homes and wreaking havoc on people’s lives. We are here to alleviate that stress and assist you when disaster strikes.
Additional Resources for Property Owners Impacted by Hurricane Sally
You may find these articles useful if you’ve had property damage and need to file an insurance claim, or if you’ve already filed an insurance claim:
- Insurance Company Treating You Unfairly? You’re not alone.
- When Not to File an Insurance Claim, Or Should You?
- Why Your Insurance Claim Payout Will Be Too Low: Problems Associated with Estimation Software.
Whether you have damage from rain or wind, structural or interior, we are here to help you get back on your feet and that starts with getting the most out of your home insurance. Not sure where to start? Give us a call today at (877) 411-2673 or send us an email and we will walk you through the process, step by step.
[1] Dick, S. (2020, September 16). Hurricane Sally Makes Landfall With Major Impact to the Florida Panhandle. Retrieved September 17, 2020, from https://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/news/2020/09/16/hurricane-sally-makes-landfall-with-major-impact-to-the-florida-panhandle
[2] Childs, J. W. (2020, September 16). Rescues Ongoing in Florida After Sally; Two Deaths Blamed on the Storm in Alabama, Georgia. Retrieved September 17, 2020, from https://weather.com/news/news/2020-09-16-hurricane-sally-latest-news-alabama-florida-gulf-coast
Photo: Eye of Hurricane Sally Sept 14, 2020 NOAA. Credit to James Carpenter.
