A hurricane claim often begins while the house is still wet. The adjuster may not arrive before a tarp goes up or damaged materials come out. Start a record as soon as it is safe, then keep it current as the loss becomes clearer. You can take reasonable steps to prevent more damage without waiting for a perfect inventory.
Make the property safe and tell the insurer
Stay out of unstable structures, floodwater and areas with damaged electrical equipment. The CDC’s hurricane safety guidance says to run a portable generator outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, with a working carbon monoxide detector. If an alarm sounds or someone becomes ill, leave the area and seek emergency help.
Contact your insurer or agent promptly under the policy’s notice terms. Ask for a claim number, the next inspection step and where to send photographs and receipts. If you also have flood insurance, report the flood loss to that insurer. Homeowners and flood policies can cover different causes of damage, so one report may not open both claims. The Louisiana Department of Insurance recovery center and FEMA’s flood claim guidance explain the separate processes.
Record what changed before cleanup changes it again
Photograph each affected room from a distance and up close. Record roof openings, broken windows, water lines, damaged contents and any path by which rain entered. Date the images if possible. Make a simple inventory with descriptions, approximate purchase dates and replacement information you can find. Save the policy, notices, estimates, inspection reports, emails and a timeline of calls. If it is safe and practical, photograph damaged materials before disposal. Do not leave hazardous wet material in the home merely to preserve evidence.
Temporary work may be necessary. Keep invoices for tarping, water removal, drying and lodging, and note who performed each job. The NAIC’s claims guidance recommends documenting damage and keeping receipts while making reasonable temporary repairs. A contractor’s estimate may identify work the first insurance estimate missed, but it is useful to compare the line items rather than assuming either number settles the scope.
Separate wind, rain and rising water
The same storm can damage a roof with wind and later bring floodwater into the building. Record the sequence and physical signs without guessing at the final coverage decision. Photos of a roof opening, interior staining, exterior water marks and the height of water inside can help explain what happened. FEMA’s flood insurance resources distinguish flood coverage from homeowners coverage. The applicable policy language and the actual cause of each item of damage control the claim.
If the loss involves a business, a separate commercial hurricane claim guide addresses inventory and interruption records. For a homeowner, our guide to hurricane claim attorney fees explains what to examine before hiring counsel. The Baton Rouge hurricane damage practice page describes coverage and valuation disputes the firm handles.
Read agreements and insurer responses closely
A contractor may need permission to inspect or do emergency work, but a work authorization, assignment of benefits and full claim release are different documents. Read what rights and payment authority each transfers before signing. The NAIC cautions about assignments after a storm. If a payment is described as final, compare it with the estimate, deductible, coverage categories and any damage still being investigated.
Put material disagreements in writing. Identify the rooms or components omitted, attach supporting photographs or estimates, and ask the insurer to explain the applicable policy provision or factual reason for a denial. Keep the response and its date. Louisiana’s La. R.S. 22:1892 addresses adjustment, payment and good faith duties. La. R.S. 22:1892.2 has distinct rules for qualifying catastrophic residential property losses, including payment timing after satisfactory written proof and a cure notice process for certain penalties. Whether those provisions apply, when proof was satisfactory, and whether a delay was justified are fact dependent. Policy deadlines and any legal deadline should be checked for the particular claim rather than assumed from a general article.
If the insurer’s estimate remains incomplete, organize the disputed items and the evidence for each. A clear supplemental submission is easier to evaluate than scattered calls and photographs. A lawyer can review the policy, claim history and time limits when coverage, causation or a proposed release remains contested.
Last reviewed: September 26, 2026. Sources checked: September 27, 2026.
This article provides general Louisiana insurance and safety information, not advice about a particular claim. Coverage, deadlines and remedies depend on the policy, loss and applicable law.