What damage can a flood cause? Property owners throughout Florida can answer that question. The obvious first signs are heart-wrenching: personal belongings water-logged and unsalvageable, clothing with permanent stains and horrible smells, and furniture that's not even fit for firewood. Rapid Public Adjusters, Inc. represents property owners on flood claims throughout Florida from our office in Miami.
What Constitutes a Flood?
Flooding can strike any Florida homeowner anytime. An 80-gallon water heater that finally rusts out and deluges your basement with water can be thought of as a small flood. So, too, can a burst water main in the middle of your street. Hurricanes, heavy rains, or even a sudden summer downpour can bring flood waters into your home. When faced with flood damage, homeowners throughout Florida look to their insurance companies for relief. Often, they do not get the help they need.
How the loss is classified matters. If the water came from a failed supply line, an overflowing fixture, or a broken pipe rather than rising water, the claim is handled under a property policy instead, and our water damage claims page covers that situation.
Damage Caused by Flooding
Even a minor, localized flood can cause substantial and often unseen damage to structures. Consider these issues:
- Structural damage to homes through weakened support members
- Electrical damage and risks of electrocution from live wires in water
- Sharp, submerged objects like broken glass, metal shards, ceramic chips and more
- Sanitary hazards from grey or black water
- Mold and mildew formation on walls, floors, soft materials, and even within walls
- Ruined appliances
- Destroyed food stocks
- Unsafe living conditions
Standing water also sets up a second problem weeks later. Growth behind baseboards and inside wall cavities is common after a flood, and our mold damage claims page explains how that part of the loss is documented.
The Flood Claims Process in Florida
Homeowners throughout Florida can gauge the full extent of flood damage by enlisting the aid of expert public adjusters. Rapid Public Adjusters, Inc. can make an appointment with you, enter into a letter of representation to serve you as a client, and then get to work on the actual flood damage. Our expert adjusters determine the level of damage and define the scope of work needed to rehabilitate your home. Call or email us today to talk through your flood claim.