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Reed Smith Hurricane Irma Disaster Relief Resources Guide

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Home Perspectives Reed Smith Hurricane Irma Disaster Relief Resources Guide
Individuals impacted by Hurricane Irma will generally have claims relating to flooding of their homes and/or automobiles. For homes, the entire floor of flooding must be cleared of impacted carpet/flooring, cabinets, dry wall up several feet, appliances, and personal property. Construction to repair flooded homes is expected to take five to 12 months, and individuals will need to obtain temporary housing for a prolonged period of time.

Authors: Evan T. Knott

Hurricane between Florida and Cuba

Auto Insurance

An estimated 500,000 to 1 million automobiles were damaged by Hurricane Harvey flooding in Texas, and comparable numbers can be expected from Hurricane Irma.

Automobile damage from flooding is generally covered under the Comprehensive coverage portion of the policy. Individuals should obtain a complete copy of their automobile insurance and submit a claim to their automobile insurer.

Flood Insurance

Flooding from Irma, particularly from storm surge, will impact a large number of homeowners. Only 42 percent of impacted homes along Florida’s 38 coastal counties may have flood coverage.

Individuals with flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) should file a claim through their insurer. NFIP policies are often managed by an individual’s regular home insurer. The form policy generally covers up to $250,000 to repair/replace real property, and $100,000 to repair/replace personal property. An advance of $5,000 to $10,000 is usually available, if needed, and homeowners need to follow NFIP guidelines to avoid mold (which is not
covered).

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