Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
While some Floridians have looked to their insurance companies or FEMA to help with property damage from Hurricane Idalia, homeowners and renters in Pasco County are being urged to apply for relief from the county’s community development department.
The county invites homeowners to apply for up to $25,000 in home repairs at their principal dwelling.
Renters may also qualify for rental assistance of up to $20,000. Should a family or individual need to relocate, this can cover the costs of a security deposit as well as the first and final month’s rent.
Individuals and families with low and moderate incomes are eligible for the assistance.
You can apply for aid here.
What About My Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance?
If your homeowner’s or renter’s policy covers storm damage, having it can give you some peace of mind. What happens, though, if the insurance provider rejects your claim? You can suffer severe damages and have no way to rebuild.
Many storm victims may accept the insurance company’s word without challenging it in order to receive the money they are entitled to for reconstruction. That may mean that you leave empty-handed or with insufficient funds.
Insurance firms profit by taking in a large sum of money and paying out fewer claims. Insurance firms receive a flood of claims when a hurricane hits and may attempt to underpay or reject claims when they can.
Most consumers mistakenly believe that their hurricane insurance policy would pay for all house damage that a storm may inflict, but this is not necessarily the case. There are several important things that your typical hurricane insurance policy is likely to not cover. It is crucial to be aware of these exclusions so that you can make the appropriate plans and preparations. In Florida, a few of the major things that storm insurance frequently excludes are as follows:
- Wind damage: Surprisingly, wind damage is generally excluded from normal storm insurance coverage. This means that your insurance may not pay for repairs if strong winds cause damage to your home.
- Flooding: Flooding is not often covered by hurricane insurance policies. This is one of the most common exclusions, thus it is crucial to be aware of it. You might wish to buy supplementary flood insurance to protect your house if you reside in a flood-prone location.
- Backup of your sewage or drains: If your sewer or drains back up as a result of an excessive amount of rain, your hurricane insurance policy probably will not pay for the damages. However, you might be able to buy extra protection for this kind of occurrence.
- Mold: Mold development is commonly caused by water damage, which is frequently excluded from storm insurance coverage. As a result, these plans frequently do not cover mold damage.
- Personal Property: Your home’s structural damage will probably be the only thing covered by your hurricane insurance coverage, not your personal belongings. This means that you will probably have to foot the bill for their replacement if a hurricane damages your furniture, electronics, or other personal items.
It is critical to understand your hurricane insurance policy’s restrictions before a storm comes. This way, you can be certain that you have the necessary coverage to secure your house and other personal belongings.
Consult with our knowledgeable Pasco County Hurricane and Storm Damage Claims Attorneys at Whittel & Melton about taking legal action if a hurricane destroys your property and you are having difficulties getting it covered. We can help you understand all your options and work with you to get the relief you need. Call us today at 727-847-2299.