Water and Wind

  

In every hurricane there is always an argument over whether water or wind caused the loss. When I talk about water, I am talking about flood and not water that comes through a damaged roof or window. In the case of flood water, if you didn’t purchase a flood policy, you won’t have coverage under your homeowner’s policy. So the argument of water verses wind has financial consequences. Even if you have flood coverage it may have financial consequences if there is not enough flood coverage to pay for your loss.

As a general strategy, work to get as much damage covered under the policy with the greatest limits. And don’t concede to flood property that was first damaged by wind and subsequently damaged by flood. 

After Hurricane Katrina a famous attorney tried to convince the Mississippi court that flood was an ambiguous tem in the homeowner’s policy. That court didn’t buy his argument.  Chances are good that the court of the land will not buy a similar argument in your area either. So if you have both flood damage and wind damage, but don’t have flood insurance, look to identify all the signs of wind damage and assert that as a part of your claim against the wind policy. Not sure how to do that?

Go to BenefitBill. I’ve just posted a new video and workbook on this very subject.