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“I’ve been doing this for over 20 years working at these mobile sites and this is some most severe hail in several years,” Ron Hogan of State Farm said.John Murphy’s pickup took some hard hail hits on the hood and mostly the roof.”It was kind of like watching a disaster unfold. There was nothing you can do about it except stand there and watch it,” Murphy said.It’s estimated that Monday’s storm caused hail damage to thousands of cars in metro Atlanta. If you haven’t contacted your insurance company yet, you should do that quickly.State Farm advises that if the hail busted a windshield, do not drive that vehicle until the glass is replaced. They also urge people to have patience.”So that’s the thing that I tell folks to please be patient because the shops are going to have their hands full for months to come,” Hogan said.Dozens of cars at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were also damaged by hail. State Farm reminds those drivers to contact their insurance companies and make sure they know where the car was parked when damaged because their neighborhood might not have been affected.
- Published in In the News
All American Public Adjusters: Flood Claim Experts
Heavy rainfall hit Ocean City on Thursday, causing several inches of flooding in resort town and along the Costal Highway. According to the National Weather Service, over 3 inches of rain feel from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
As a costal city, Ocean City has experienced flooding before. The most recent storm that caused severe flood damage with several feet of flood waters was Superstorm Sandy. Although the recent flood is nothing comparable to the flooding during Sandy, any level of flood waters can cause a lot of damage especially if it is flash flooding, when flooding comes non-expectantly.
For Friday, July 12, 2013, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for Ocean City and will remain in effect until early morning Saturday.
[middlerepresent}Types Of Damages
- Storm Damage
- Hail/Wind/Water
- Hurricane
- Tornado
- Fire Damage
- Water Damage
- Pipe break
- A/C Leak
- Dishwasher Leak
- Mold Damage
- Theft/Vandalism Damage
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- Published in In the News
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Hurricane Sandy victims will have another six months to file FEMA flood insurance claims, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer announced Tuesday.
But while FEMA’s disaster recovery operations will remain up and running during the government shutdown, their Risk-Mapping Program won’t — which could lead to delays in getting the final new flood maps that will determine new base flood elevations and flood insurance premiums.
During the shutdown, FEMA will “cease providing high quality data that is used for public planning which ultimately is used to make insurance determinations for homeowners,” according to White House contingency plans for the shutdown.
But Sandy victims still filing claims won’t need to worry.
The National Flood Insurance Program, managed by FEMA, originally required Sandy victims to file a proof of loss form, which is a statement on the amount of damage they are claiming, by Oct. 29 — a year after he storm hit. But many families haven’t been able to meet the deadline as they wait for repair work, or become aware of new expenses as repairs continue.
Schumer and Gillibrand led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling for the extension, and Gililbrand personally lobbied FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for an extension.
“Sandy-impacted homeowners who suffered damages from the storm should not be denied claims due to the timing of their paperwork,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “This critical extension will give struggling families more time to apply for the resources they deserve to repair and rebuild their homes.”
Said Schumer: “A six month extension will help ensure that families aren’t denied the insurance money they deserved because of missing paperwork they didn’t know they needed to file. Sandy was a storm unlike any we’ve ever seen and the rebuilding process is incredibly complex – this extension takes that complexity into account.”
A letter to FEMA about the issue was co-signed by a slew of New York and New Jersey lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn).
- Published in In the News
Thousands of Colorado homeowners may face a personal financial disaster in the wake of the state’s severe floods.
Standard homeowner insurance policies don’t cover damage from floods, and most homeowners in the state don’t have separate flood insurance.
In Colorado, only 22,000 homes and businesses have flood insurance, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Most of those are residential policies.
“These are rare events so people think, ‘It’s not going to happen to me,’ ” says Robert Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America.
He estimates that 10% to 25% of Colorado homes in high-risk flood areas have coverage. In New Orleans and parts of Florida, coverage runs more like 50% to 60%, says Hunter, who previously ran the National Flood Insurance Program. The federal program is the main source of flood insurance coverage for homeowners, renters and businesses.
In three Colorado counties hard hit by the floods, the percentage of single-family homes with flood insurance coverage is in the low single digits, FEMA and Census Bureau data show.
Boulder County has 4,779 flood insurance policies, FEMA says, but more than 77,000 detached single-family homes, Census data shows.
El Paso County, with almost 170,000 single family homes, has 3,915 policies. Larimer County has almost 90,000 single-family homes and 1,343 policies.
FEMA urged more Colorado residents to buy flood insurance — for homes and businesses — last year after wildfires destroyed or damaged more than 344,000 acres of land.
Fires destroy natural forest barriers and increase erosion risk, flash floods, mud flows and debris flows.
“We’re in for at least 10 more years of this,” says Steve Schopper with the Colorado Springs Fire Department and the Manitou Springs Fire Department. Manitou Springs has been hit with four flash floods since last summer’s wildfires, he says.
Any homeowner with a mortgage backed by the federal government, most often through Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, in a high-risk flood area must have flood insurance.
But even homeowners with flood insurance may not have coverage for their homes’ contents.
Joe Meckle, 53, of hard-hit Lyons estimates that he’s lost about $100,000 in chiropractor equipment from his home office.
Given that he had insurance on the home, he considers himself fortunate. He hopes to get a low-interest loan, as part of the federal disaster relief, to help rebuild his practice.
“I’m in better shape than most,” Meckle says. He feels for people who paid off mortgages and didn’t maintain flood insurance in the face of rising costs, he says.
His latest premiums — for $250,000 in coverage — ran about $2,100 a year. “When it was $50 a year, it wasn’t a big deal,” but then the cost “became significant,” he says.
Last year, Congress passed flood insurance reform, which called on FEMA to raise rates to reflect true flood risks and make the program more financially stable.
Nationally, the average flood insurance premium runs $650 a year, FEMA says.
Consumers should consider flood insurance even if they’re not in a mapped flood plain, FEMA says. Typically, 25% of damages occur outside of high-risk areas, it says. More than 90% of presidentially declared disasters include flooding, FEMA says.
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- Published in In the News
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A slow-moving storm brought as much as 10 inches Saturday in south Springfield, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood emergency for parts of south Springfield – the most serious warning the National Weather Service can issue. This is the first time in Springfield history for this alert to be issued.
The area hardest hit appears to be south Springfield and the unincorporated area of Greene County just south of the city. Traffic on Campbell near of James River Freeway was slowed to a crawl as water rushed over the road at several spots.
If you live in this area and have acquired flood damage, it is important to act quickly in getting your home back. After you call you insurance company, it is essential that you contact your local Public Adjuster to assist you in the claim process. We have restoration specialists as well as claims experts to who will take immediate action to ensure that you get fully reimbursed for you loss.
At All American Public Adjusters we have a team of insurance claims professionals who will take over the claims process for you and contract the necessary professionals to get your property effectively restored. You insurance company has a team of insurance claims and restoration professionals; you too can have a team on your side who is looking out for your interest. Call us for a free consultation or call us if you have any questions about your flood claim. We would be happy to help you with any questions you may have.
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- Published in In the News
Since Tropical Storm Andrea has made her way inland, the most potential damage is due to flash flooding. Forecasters are saying that she is expected to drench 13 states from Georgia to Maine.
The National Weather Service gives the following tips for Eastcost residents:
- Monitor the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, or your favorite news source for vital weather related information.
- If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes etc.
- Avoid areas already flooded, especially if the water is flowing fast. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. Turn Around Don’t Drown
- Road beds may be washed out under flood waters. NEVER drive through flooded roadways. Turn Around Don’t Drown™
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.
- Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
Get the Professionals Involced
When disaster hits your home, it is vital to get professional contractors and adjusters involved. You will need to take immediate action of getting the water out of your home, and calling a water mitigation specialist will ensure proper water removal and property drying. Additionally, just like insurance companies have their own insurance adjusting team, you can hire your own private insurance adjusting team who will negotiate the claim for you and ensure you maximize your insurance claim.
The professional team at All American Public Adjusters will maximize your insurance claim and minimize our stress. We will take over the insurance claim process and give you a peace of mind that you will be reimbursed for you loss.
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- Published in In the News
The first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is approaching Florida’s Big Bend area, the National Hurricane Center reported. It continued to bring drenching rain to much of the state along with the threat of tornadoes. As of 5 p.m. ET, Tropical Storm Andrea had winds of 65 mph and was moving to the northeast at 17 mph. The National Weather Service has issued flood watches all the way from Georgia to Maine as the center of Andrea will accelerate northeastward toward the Lowcountry of South Carolina by Friday morning. Andrea, or its non-tropical remnant low, will then get pulled northeastward ahead of a frontal system moving through the eastern states Friday into early Saturday. This will enhance rainfall along the East Coast during this timeframe. Homeowners are making necessary preperations as the storm makes its way inland.
Cities at risk: Tampa Bay, Myakka City, Sun City Center, Gulfport
Get the Professionals Involved
Due to the nature of Tropical Storms, it is essential that you contact professionals to help you as you file your insurance claim. If flooding or water damage occurs, you will need to contact a water mitigation company immediately to prevent further damage. In addition, you will need to contact a local contractor to give you estimates for the damage that occurred to your home. Lastly, contact a public adjuster. A public adjuster is an insurance adjuster that works for the home-owner. They will be able to maximize your claim reimbursement amount. Public Adjusters are trained professionals who are familiar with insurance policy, claims and law and can handle the entire claim process and are licensed to negotiate the claim on your behalf.
Contact an All American Public Adjuster insurance claim professional who specializes in hurricane damage. Regardless of the type of damage that you have experienced in your home of commercial property a licensed public adjuster can help you collect more money on your insurance claim.
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- Published in In the News
Storms that swept through an area outside Oklahoma City on Friday generated an F5 tornado with nearly a three-mile spread and winds that reached 300 mph. The massive tornado – nearly twice as wides – struck less than two weeks after a tornado ripped through nearby Moore, Oklahoma. In addition to multiple tornadoes forming, Friday night’s severe weather triggered a flash flood and hail the size of grapefruits.
With all of this devastation, home owners will be counting on their insurance companies to cover the loss that damage that occurred in this massive storm. The Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner, John D. Doak, stated this encouraging words,
Our responsibility is clear and our commitment to the citizens of Oklahoma is strong during this devastating time; we are continuing to come up with ways to address consumer concerns and provide united support. The victims can rest assured that we will be here to help until the last claim is filed.
Many homeowners in recent storms are calling the professional to assist them during this time of crisis. As a homeowner, you can hire your own private independent adjuster, who will assist you with your claim process and ensure that the insurance are reimbursing the insured completely.
Contact a Public Adjuster at All American Public Adjusters. We have professional experience in handling windstorm claims. We will help you maximize your insurance reimbursement and minimize your stress. The last thing anyone wants to deal with after suffering this type of loss is the insurance claim process, which can sometimes be more stressful than the storm itself. Our adjusters have extensive knowledge of the damages often associated with this type of loss. Let us take on the burden of handling your insurance claim while you begin to put your life back together.
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- Published in In the News
All American Public Adjusters in Chicago: Flood Damage Claims Experts
The recent flooding in Chicago has made history, according to the National Wather Service. By Monday, the DuPage, Des Plaines, and Illinois rivers had begun to surge setting records for flooding over the weekend. Although the water is dissipating, residents are still stunned by the damage that has taken place. Many residents in the suburbs of Chicago have lost the possessions and have maintained vast amounts of damage to their homes.
For most in the suburbs, this experience was a first for them, and as a result the flooding took them by surprise. The officials in Plainfiled and Lisle are helping residents with emergency updates from how to dispose of destroyed objects to how remain healthy in this time of loss.
As residents look to the future and initiate insurance claims for their loss, many fear due to all the news and articles posted during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. If you live in Plainfield, Lisle, Forest View, or in Lake County, contact us immediately. We are independent adjusters who work for the homeowner ensuring that you will be funded for your loss. We offer a free consultation. We will review your policy and let you know your coverage and help you through the entire claim process.
You have enough on your mind when disaster strikes. Give us a call, and let All American Public Adjusters take it from here.
What we do for you:
- Document Property and Contents Damage
- Maximize your insurance claim and minimize your stress
- Negotiate the insurance claim for necessary repairs or replacement for the loss
- Provide detailed estimates for the loss
- Reopen denials and ensure proper reimbursement
- Residential and Commercial Claims
Call for a Free Consultation today
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- Published in In the News
All American Public Adjusters: Flood Damage Claims Experts
The Marmaton River near Nevada, Missouri has been fluctuating between the action and flood stages since Wednesday April 24, 2013 where the river extended beyond the flood stage value of 20 ft to 22.32 ft. Although the National Weather Service is predicting that the flood waters will drop below the flood stage by Tuesday evening (April 30th), there is still a flood warning for those in Nevada, Missouri near the Marmaton River. If you are in Nevada, Missouri near Marmaton River, taking the necessary precautions is essential. Remember: a flood warning means that flood waters have been reported and that flooding is imminent. The following are some tips to keep you safe during and after flooding:
- Avoid areas subject to sudden flooding
- Do not attempt to cross a stream where water is above your knees. When in doubt, don’t try it.
- Do not try to drive over a flooded road. The cater can be much deeper than it appears and your could be stranded or trapped.
- Stay away from drains and ditches
- Do not eat fresh food that has come in contact with flood waters.
- Boil drinking water before using
- Report broken gas, electrical and water lines immediately
- Do no handle electrical equipment in wet areas.
- Do not sightsee. Your presence could impede relief efforts as well as endanger yourself
- Cooperate with local officials.
If you have experienced flood damage in Vernon County, contact us for a free insurance consultation. We will review your policy to let you know what is covered. Your insurance company has an adjuster to evaluate the damage from the insurance perspective. You too can have a private insurance adjuster.
What we do for you:
- Document Property and Contents Damage
- Maximize your insurance claim and minimize your stress
- Negotiate the insurance claim for necessary repairs or replacement for the loss
- Provide detailed estimates for the loss
- Reopen denials and ensure proper reimbursement
- Residential and Commercial Claims
Call for a Free Consultation today
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- Published in In the News