Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
Tropical Storm Debby was downgraded from a hurricane this morning after making landfall in Steinhatchee along the Gulf coast.
Heay rains and winds are expected in Tampa and central Florida throughout the day today, as well as tropical storm and storm surge warnings.
The majority of Central Florida and the Bay area are under a tornado watch until 6 a.m. Tornadoes can form rapidly from passing storms originating from Debby’s outer bands.
Effects on the Tampa Bay Region
- In the Tampa Bay area, expect 3 to 7 inches; larger totals could occur, particularly northward. Rainfall amounts are predicted to be lower inland.
- Significant storm surge along the Nature Coast is possible. The areas that will be most affected are Bayport and Crystal River, extending northward from Hernando and Citrus County.
- Storm surges of three to four feet are predicted southward near Tampa Bay. Flood-prone communities around Tampa Bay may see an increase in water levels because of this.
- A storm surge of six to ten feet is possible further north, along Levy County’s coast and around Cedar Key.
- Several tornadoes are possible tonight.
Effects on the Central Florida Region
- On Monday, Central Florida may still see erratic weather, including isolated tornadoes, strong gusts of wind, and locally heavy rain.
- Expect 2 to 4 inches of rain on average across most of east central Florida, with greater amounts up to about 8 inches in certain areas.
- Rainfall in Flagler, Marion, and Sumter counties, as well as areas further north and west of Orlando, is expected to average between five and eight inches, with some areas seeing as much as ten inches.
- Localized flooding is likely, particularly in Marion County, which has recently experienced sea breeze storms that have saturated the land.
Hurricanes and other large storms can hit Florida unexpectedly, wreaking havoc on your home and life. After ensuring you and your family’s safety following a hurricane or tropical storm, one of the next steps is to file a claim for damages with your insurance carrier.
How Do You File A Storm Damage Claim with Your Insurance Provider?
Filing a storm damage claim is as simple as going onto your insurance company’s website and submitting a claim. However, insurance companies are notorious for playing games with these submissions and may say they never received your claim, so you want to be prepared for that to happen and follow up with an email documenting the details of the claim you submitted. When you send this email make sure you include the date of your submission and the details that were provided. For example:
Dear (insert insurance provider name here),
I submitted a claim on your website on August 5, 2024. I provided you with pictures of the damage to my roof and siding and included estimates from (insert contractor here). I have included these pictures/videos/estimates in this email as well. You can include what the damaged area looked like before and attach any pictures if you have them, or you can describe it in your email. Include details about any other information you submitted on their website. You can also snap a picture of your website submission form before you click the submit button and include this in your email.
By writing a follow up email you are creating a paper trail of proof so that the insurance company cannot deny receipt of your claim. Be sure to keep a log of all emails and other communications from your insurance provider in the event your claim is not handled properly.
Contact Whittel & Melton for a FREE Consultation – 866-608-5529
If you have property damage from a tropical storm or hurricane, do not accept your insurance company’s first offer. Your best option is to consult with a lawyer and have your claim reviewed before accepting any money from your insurance provider. Our Tampa Storm Damage Claims Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can review your claim and negotiate with your insurance company to make sure you are getting fairly compensated for storm damages. Call us today at 866-608-5529 or locally in Tampa at 813-221-3200 for a completely free consultation. You can contact us online 24/7.