In October 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, which lead to 35 people losing their lives. At the time of landfall, the storm had sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, and it was noted for its rapid intensification just before impacting land. Both storm surge and fallen trees caused significant property damage in Mexico Beach and surrounding areas. Furthermore, building codes did not require that structures in the area be able to resist the storm’s strong winds.
Of the 119,160 insurance claims that have been filed so far, about 71,000 of them were filed in Bay County. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said that four other counties also had more than 5,000 claims from the storm. According to official figures, 45.9 percent of the claims had been closed, and there were more than $3 billion in insured losses as of Nov. 9.
It is believed that insurance claims could total up to $10 billion after factoring in damage from outside of Florida. However, it is not believed that insurance companies will have problems paying out claims in a timely manner. It is also not believed that any significant changes to the market will occur because of the storm. Recovery from the storm is likely to be a long-term effort for areas impacted by Michael.
Window or roof damage caused by a hurricane may be expensive to repair. However, the cost may be covered in part or in full by an insurance policy. Those who have questions about their policy may want to talk with their insurance agent or consult with an attorney. If a claim is denied, it may be worthwhile to hire a legal professional. An attorney may help appeal a denial or take other steps to resolve the matter favorably.