A hurricane claim may combine roof and opening damage, wind-driven rain, falling objects, prolonged water entry, power interruption, contents loss, displacement, and business interruption. The investigation should separate each cause and damage category rather than treating the property as one undifferentiated storm loss.
The objective is to preserve an accurate record before water dries, components are discarded, buildings are repaired, financial records become difficult to reconstruct, or the parties take fixed positions without complete information.
Address safety and stabilize the property
Follow emergency officials and avoid unstable roofs, electrical hazards, contaminated water, gas, and active fire risks. Use qualified help for dangerous conditions.
Take reasonable temporary measures, but do not let permanent reconstruction erase the cause and extent of damage before documentation.
Create a systematic visual record
Begin with the address and all exterior elevations, then move room by room. Photograph openings, water paths, ceilings, walls, flooring, contents, equipment, and debris before items are moved.
Repeat photographs during demolition and drying because concealed damage may become visible only after finishes are removed.
Build one organized claim file
Keep the policy, notice information, claim number, adjuster contacts, photographs, estimates, contracts, invoices, receipts, reports, inventories, and communications together.
For commercial property, add daily closure decisions, lost bookings or sales, payroll, tenant communications, extra expenses, and mitigation steps.
Evidence checklist
- Pre-storm photographs, videos, inspections, and maintenance records
- Time-stamped post-storm exterior, interior, and contents documentation
- Emergency dry-out, tarping, board-up, generator, and security invoices
- Damaged-material samples and photographs of concealed conditions
- Policy, endorsements, claim diary, reports, estimates, and payments
- Income, expense, inventory, occupancy, and operational records
Read the complete policy and preserve post-loss compliance
Notice, protection of property, inventories, records, inspections, sworn statements, examinations, proof of loss, and other duties vary. Keep requests and responses in writing, document reasonable mitigation, and obtain the complete policy and endorsements before assuming what is or is not covered.
Related claim guide
Hurricane Damage Claims
Read the full cause-of-loss, scope, evidence, and frequently asked questions page for this property claim.
View the property-claim guide
About the author
Thomas J. Nessler
Thomas is a partner at Nessler & Associates and represents policyholders in residential and commercial first-party property-insurance disputes.