Hurricane guide
What to do after a hurricane
What I learned watching my town go through Hurricane Laura, and the steps that make a hurricane claim go smoother.
I live in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In August 2020, Hurricane Laura came ashore just south of us as a Category 4 storm, and six weeks later Hurricane Delta hit the same area. A lot of people I know spent the next year fighting through claims.
The ones who had it a little easier had one thing in common: they could show what they had. Photos, lists, anything. Everyone else was trying to remember what was in their closets while living with family or in a camper. That's a big part of why I built AfterProof.
Here's the checklist I'd give anyone in a storm's path, whether it's already hit or it's still out in the Gulf.
If a storm is coming
- Walk through your house and take photos or video of every room, closets and drawers open
- Shoot the outside too: roof, siding, fence, shed and anything in the yard
- Find your policy and save your agent's number and claim line in your phone
- Check whether you have flood insurance. Homeowners policies usually don't cover flooding
- Store copies of your photos and documents in the cloud, not just on your phone
After the storm: stay safe first
Wait for the all clear before you head home. Watch for downed power lines, standing water and damaged roofs. Don't run a generator inside or in a garage.
Report the claim as soon as you can
After a big storm, thousands of people file at once. Getting in line early helps. When you call, ask:
- What's my claim number, and when will an adjuster reach out?
- What's my hurricane or named storm deductible?
- Do I have additional living expenses coverage if I can't stay home?
- What do you need from me for contents, and by when?
Keep a claim diary: every call, name, date and what was promised.
Photograph everything before you clean up
- Every room, every wall, plus ceilings, floors and water lines on the walls.
- The outside: roof, siding, windows, fence, trees on structures.
- Damaged belongings before they go to the curb. Get the brand and model if you can.
- Keep samples of things like carpet or flooring if your adjuster asks for them.
Prevent more damage and keep receipts
Once it's safe, make reasonable temporary repairs like tarping the roof, boarding windows and drying things out. Most policies expect you to keep the damage from getting worse. Save every receipt for materials, labor, hotels, food and other storm costs.
Wind vs flood: know which policy pays
This trips up a lot of people. Standard homeowners and renters policies generally cover wind damage, and rain that gets in through holes the wind made. Flooding from rising water is usually only covered by a separate flood policy, through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer. If you had both kinds of damage, you may have two claims. Ask your agent which policy covers what.
Your contents list
After Laura, the contents list was where people got stuck. You'll usually need a description, age and value for everything damaged or lost. If you didn't make a home inventory before the storm, rebuild it:
- Go room by room using our home inventory checklist
- Search your camera roll and social media for photos inside your home
- Pull order history from Amazon, Walmart, Target and other stores
- Go through credit card and bank statements
- Ask family and neighbors for photos taken at your place
More on that in my guide to proving what you owned without receipts.
Before the next one
If I could go back to August 2020 and hand everyone one thing, it would be a finished home inventory. That's what AfterProof does. Snap a room, the AI picks out the items and finds replacement values, and you have a PDF ready to send your adjuster. Use it before a storm to be ready, or after one to rebuild your list.
Watch out for storm scams
- Ask for ID from anyone claiming to be an adjuster, inspector or contractor.
- Don't sign a repair contract until you've talked to your adjuster, and check the contractor's license, insurance and reviews.
- Be careful with big upfront payments and anyone pressuring you to sign today.
- In Louisiana, you can reach the Louisiana Department of Insurance at 1 800 259 5300 or ldi.la.gov.
Quick answers
Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane damage?
Homeowners insurance generally covers wind damage from a hurricane, but flooding from rising water usually needs a separate flood policy. Many coastal policies also have a separate hurricane or named storm deductible.
How soon should I file a hurricane claim?
As soon as you safely can. After a big storm, insurers get flooded with claims, and filing early gets you in line sooner. Check your policy for any deadlines.
Should I make repairs before the adjuster comes?
Make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent more damage, like tarping a roof, and keep the receipts. Photograph everything first and hold off on permanent repairs until you've talked to your adjuster.
What do I need for the contents part of a hurricane claim?
Usually a list of damaged or lost items with a description, age and value for each. Photos, receipts, statements and order history all help back it up.
Will insurance pay for a hotel after a hurricane?
If your home isn't livable, additional living expenses coverage may help pay for a hotel or rental and extra costs. Save every receipt and check your policy limits.
This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Every policy is different, so check yours or ask your agent.
Sources: Louisiana Department of Insurance, after Hurricane Laura, United Policyholders.
