A hurricane can damage the same house in two very different ways. Wind may tear shingles from the roof and let rain enter from above. Hours later, storm surge or rising water may enter from below. The losses happened during one storm, but they may fall under separate insurance policies. For most Louisiana homeowners,…
A hurricane claim begins before an adjuster arrives. The first photographs, temporary repairs, receipts, and written notices may become the best evidence of what the storm changed. At the same time, no insurance file is worth entering an unsafe building or climbing onto a damaged roof. This checklist is organized around the decisions Louisiana…
Hurricane damage is not always visible when the wind stops. Water can travel behind siding, around windows, through roof openings, and into insulation before a ceiling stain appears. A quick exterior look may miss damage that becomes expensive after materials dry, swell, or begin to decay. Homeowners should balance two goals: avoid unsafe areas…
A homeowner opens the declarations page after a storm and finds two deductibles: perhaps $1,000 for many ordinary covered losses and 3% for a named storm. The percentage is usually applied to the insured property value identified in the policy, not to the repair estimate. That difference can decide whether a modest roof claim…
A family can be displaced long before the roof or drywall estimate is finished. A hotel bill arrives nightly, a short rental may require a deposit, and meals cost more when there is no kitchen. Additional living expense coverage, often called ALE or loss of use, addresses certain increased costs of living away from…
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…
Archive context: This page was first published after Hurricane Ida in 2021. The resources below are general Louisiana starting points, not a live list of open shelters, restoration times or assistance programs for a particular storm. Check your parish’s current emergency notices before traveling. If someone needs urgent medical care or rescue, there is…
A commercial hurricane claim is more than a repair estimate for the building. A storm can damage the roof and equipment, spoil inventory, interrupt operations and require temporary space. The first challenge is to show what happened to each part of the property and how the loss affected the business. Start with safety and…
There is no standard dollar amount or universal percentage that every Louisiana hurricane claim lawyer receives. The fee depends on the agreement with the client, the work undertaken and the outcome if payment is contingent. Before hiring counsel, ask how the fee is calculated, what expenses are separate and what happens if the insurer…
After a hurricane or severe storm, the first available contractor can feel like the only option. That urgency is exactly why a few checks before signing matter. A polished truck, a local telephone number, or a promise to “work with insurance” does not establish that the business is licensed, insured, or able to finish…
Homeowners insurance may pay for an apartment while your house is being repaired, but only when the policy includes loss-of-use or Additional Living Expense coverage and a covered loss makes the home unfit to live in. The policy language, the cause of the damage, and the reasonableness of the temporary housing cost all matter….
This article provides general legal information, not legal advice. Policy language, claim deadlines, and outcomes depend on the specific facts. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. A storm claim rarely stalls because of one dramatic refusal. More often, the delay grows one step at a time: an inspection is postponed, the…