Florida ranks fifth among the most disaster-prone states in the country. This comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through data spanning 67 years. Since 1953, a total of 160 major disasters have been declared. Surprisingly, wildfires, which occur between April and May, exceed that of hurricanes, 65 to 45. Of course, that’s not to dismiss the fact that Florida experiences yearly threats of tropical cyclones. Category 5 storms like Irma and Michael resulted in mass evacuations and required federal disaster relief.
Hearing news about wildfires, hurricanes and floods across the United States has been increasingly common over the past few decades. Unfortunately, with catastrophic events come extensive damage to residential and commercial properties. Given the extent of the destruction that these natural disasters leave in their wake, you’ll most likely be looking at large-loss situations.
As the leading restoration and remodeling contractor in the area, we know a great deal about large loss. Read on as we explain everything about it and how it affects your insurance. We’re also going to tackle the vital steps to handling property restoration following natural disasters.
About Large Loss
A large loss is a term that refers to any situation involving a significant amount of damage to your property. A home that suffered a fire or got inundated after a severe rainstorm is likely to incur extensive structural damage worth thousands of dollars. Keep in mind, however, that a large loss isn’t always determined by the amount of money involved. Damage is considered as such if the following criteria are satisfied:
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Damage affects a significant area or portion of a structure
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Damage requires extensive restoration efforts to bring the property back to its original condition before the disaster hit
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Damage necessitates rebuilding most of the structure
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Damage causes the property to lose its intended function
In this regard, categorizing large-loss restoration projects depends on several factors. These include the size of the home or business, the use or purpose of the facility or structure, and the cost to restore the structure to its full-use and “like new” condition.
Large Loss and Your Insurance
In the event of a natural disaster, always remember that your insurance provider is ready to assist you. Knowing that you’re being taken care of allows you to start the process of cleaning up, restoring and recovering from an unfortunate event.
The extent of the structural damage to your property will determine how your claim is handled and the steps you’ll have to take to proceed. Depending on your situation, you may also have to carry out the replacement or recovery of your most precious belongings and valuable items. Nevertheless, knowing what is covered by your insurance policy is imperative. Even when there’s no threat of a natural disaster, it is always a good idea to review it each year. In doing so, you have a clear understanding of what your insurer will cover for repairs and restoration and their corresponding costs as outlined in the policy. If you aren’t sure, better call your insurance provider!
Generally, your insurance policy should cover the cost for the following:
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Clean-up and repairs from natural disasters
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Bringing the property up to the most recent local building codes
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Rebuilding your property
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Living expenses while the damaged property is still in an unlivable condition, including hotel room accommodation or apartment rental
How to Deal With a Large-Loss Situation
The more you know about your insurance policy, the better off you’ll be once a fire or hurricane strikes. If that unfortunate time comes, it can become too stressful to handle. It can become chaotic in the immediate hours following the event; entering your fire-damaged or inundated property may not be allowed. Then again, preparedness is the key to expedite your property restoration efforts and ensure the recovery process starts as soon as possible.
Below are some of the things you need to do when dealing with a large-loss situation:
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Hire a Local Restoration Company
The time to hire a residential construction and restoration company is when there’s no natural disaster looming that could cause a potential large-loss situation. Time is of the essence immediately after a fire or hurricane, which is why you need an experienced and reliable contractor that is a call away and ready to respond.
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Assess, Mitigate and Report Your Large Loss
Once it is safe to go back to your property, start assessing the extent of the damage. Take videos and photos of your home; these will serve as documentation that will help prove your large loss claim to your insurance provider. Also, get in touch with your local restoration company right away to ensure precautions are taken to mitigate the loss. They can determine what needs to be repaired, restored, or reconstructed. Of course, don’t forget to report your loss to your insurance provider.
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Meet With Your Restoration Contractor
Make sure you meet with the restoration company’s project manager. Understand the sequence of tasks and know how many people on their team will work on the project. Be aware of the equipment to be used for the restoration as well. If your house was flooded, they should aim to decrease interior humidity and avoid secondary damage such as mold, rot and wood deterioration.
For your residential and commercial large-loss restoration needs, turn to Kingdom Restoration Inc With our client-oriented approach, experienced contractors, and skilled teams, we’re capable of offering top-notch restoration services throughout the local area. Apart from residential remodeling, we specialize in the following residential and commercial restoration services:
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Mold Removal and Remediation
Mold is more than just unsightly spots or streaks on your walls or ceilings. It is also incredibly harmful and comes with serious risks, especially to your health. If you suspect mold in your property, contact us today to schedule an inspection.
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Water Damage Restoration
We all know how devastating floods can be, but even the smallest bit of water damage can lead to a major problem if not detected quickly. From plumbing malfunctions to basement flooding due to hydrostatic pressure, these problems shouldn’t be left unaddressed. If your home or business sustains any amount of water damage or sewage, call us right away!
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Fire Damage Restoration
Every fire damage situation is a bit different and requirez a unique solution. In addition to the loss of personal belongings, fires leave behind excessive soot and smoke, which can lead to even more damage if not taken care of. The general process of restoring the home or business, however, remains the same. Get in touch with us to learn how we do it.
Call us at (941) 483-3800 if you have any questions about our services. You may also fill out our contact form to request a quote or schedule an appointment.
