Flood 1 causal link away from damage, leaves family apart
When you ask someone who lives in Miami what it is they love, they might say that the weather is fantastic, others may mention the culture and some may talk about the nightlife. But if there is one thing that everyone living on the coast of Florida shares, it is the threat of a hurricane.
When a hurricane rips through an area, homes rarely escape damage. “Renovating” a home after a hurricane isn’t a cosmetic process. It involves so much more than simply putting on a new coat of paint, patching shingles on the roof or laying down some new carpeting. Why? Water can cause some of the worst property damage because it seeps into everything.
Homeowners up and down the east coast suffered some of the worst property damage that a storm can inflict. The storm made homes completely unlivable, and many families have yet to return. Part of the struggle is dealing with insurance claims that have been delayed or denied.
Take one family who is living everywhere but together. The kids are in one place while the parents are in another; even the dog and cat are alone. Remodeling plans have been around for months, but the entire project has been delayed because the foundation needs to be redone first.
The family was promised $117,000 for this project under an insurance policy, but FEMA is the one behind administration of flood insurance.
According to FEMA officials, flood wasn’t the direct cause of the damage. Instead, the flood caused earth movement, and it was the earth movement that was the direct cause of the foundation’s damage. The family’s claim was denied for this reason. Of course, FEMA officials said, the family could appeal.
When dealing with any flood or hurricane insurance claim, a homeowner can significantly benefit from the assistance of an attorney with extensive experience in dealing with claims that have been delayed or denied.
Source: abc, “FEMA denies family’s Sandy flood insurance claim,” Kristin Thorne, July 5, 2013
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