Hurricane Prep: Get Your Kids Ready for the Storm
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, leaving many families homeless and struggling. Many families had to survive for days without electricity or clean water showing why being ready for a hurricane is crucial, especially when you have kids.
Hurricanes can come suddenly and cause big problems. If you live in New Orleans, Louisiana, it’s important to know how to prepare for a storm and how to deal with insurance claims afterward.
We will give you tips on how to keep your family safe during a hurricane and advice on handling the legal side of things during hurricane activities in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Quick Summary
Below is an overview of the key points of this blog article.
- To prepare for hurricanes, create a family plan and assemble an emergency kit with children’s help. Educate kids about hurricanes in a way they can understand and keep them calm and occupied during the storm.
- After a Louisiana hurricane, focus on safety and health first. Then, contact your insurance company promptly to file a claim and document all communication with them. Gather evidence of the damage and mitigate further damage to your property to ensure your claim is processed smoothly.
- It’s important to understand your policies and coverage. Reviewing your policy can help you know what’s covered for your children. Filing a claim can be overwhelming, but involving older children can help them feel more secure.
- As stated in RS 22:1264, you typically have 180 days after a hurricane in Louisiana to file an insurance claim.
- The 180-day deadline for insurance claims doesn’t mean you have to finish your claim within that time. Insurance companies also don’t have to make an offer within 180 days. You need to show proof of your losses, like photos and videos, to meet this deadline, but you don’t need to finish repairs by then.
- One common issue after a hurricane in Louisiana is damage to children’s spaces and belongings. Parents might struggle to get enough money from insurance claims to repair or replace these items, leading to disputes with insurance companies over costs and quality.
- After a hurricane, families can protect their rights by keeping good records of damaged items, understanding their insurance policy, filing claims promptly, considering legal help if needed, and prioritizing safety and health. Staying informed about resources and updates from local officials is also important.
How to Prepare My Family for the Upcoming Hurricane?
There are several ways to prepare for hurricane season.
Before the Storm
Develop a Family Hurricane Plan
Making a family hurricane plan is key to staying safe. Pick a spot where everyone can meet if you get separated. Let children be involved in family planning. Ensure they know who to contact in an emergency and their phone numbers.
Write this down and keep it with the emergency kit. Also, have a way to talk to each other. You might not have cell service, so consider other options like walkie-talkies.
Assemble a Hurricane Kit
Let children help go over what items are needed for the emergency kit. Let kids create their hurricane kit. Items could include:
- Clothing
- Favorite toy
- Security item
- Items to keep busy
Also, include important documents like identification, insurance policies, and birth certificates.
Educate Children About Hurricanes
Explain hurricanes to kids in a way they can understand, based on their age. Discuss with them how the community is recovering if there is damage in your area. Encourage kids to ask questions and acknowledge any feelings or worries they have.
During the Storm
Shelter and Safety
When a hurricane comes, it’s important to follow your plan. If you need to leave your home, go to the shelter you picked ahead of time. Listen to local officials and stay away from windows.
If you’re in a safe place, stay inside until you’re told it’s okay to come out. Staying calm and following your plan will help keep you and your family safe.
Maintaining Calm
Keeping kids calm during a hurricane is important. Give them books or coloring books and let them play games to keep them busy. This can help take their mind off the storm.
Also, talk to them calmly and tell them it’s okay to be scared. It’s important to think about everyone’s mental health during this time.
What to Do Following a Louisiana Hurricane?
After a hurricane, the first thing to do is get medical help if you’re hurt. The most important thing is ensuring you and your family are safe and healthy. Once everyone is okay and you’ve seen a doctor if needed, it’s time to ensure your insurance company will pay for any damage. Here are some tips to follow after a hurricane in Louisiana.
Contact Your Insurance Company
If you have insurance for your business or home, it’s best to file your claim immediately after consulting with a Hurricane Insurance Attorney. When hurricanes hit Louisiana, many people and businesses are affected, so insurance companies get very busy. The sooner you file your claim, the sooner an adjuster will start working on it.
Document Communications
After you talk to your insurance company, record all your conversations with them about your claim. If an adjuster says they’ll cover something, ask them to give it to you in writing. Louisiana has strict rules about how insurance companies handle claims, so ensuring they’re honest and fair is important.
Gather Evidence
Gather as much evidence as possible of the hurricane’s damage to your property. Taking photos and videos of the damage helps show how much you need to claim and reduces the chance of disagreements. It’s helpful to have recent photos from before the hurricane for comparison.
Having organized, detailed records of the damage to your home, business, or belongings prepares you for when the insurance company tries to pay you less.
Mitigate Further Damage
After a hurricane in Louisiana, business owners and homeowners need to prevent more damage to their property. This is called property damage mitigation. Examples include covering holes in a roof with a tarp, boarding up broken windows, and removing wet furniture to stop mold from growing.
If you don’t mitigate property damage after a hurricane, most insurance companies won’t cover additional losses – losses that could have been avoided if you had made temporary fixes safely. Don’t start permanent repairs until your insurer gives you the go-ahead.
If you don’t wait, it will affect your claim, and you won’t get reimbursed for your work.
What Are Legal Considerations for Hurricane Insurance Claims in Louisiana?
When a hurricane hits Louisiana, dealing with the aftermath means following a specific process to file an insurance claim. Here are some things to think about when going through the claims process after your property has been damaged by a hurricane.
Understanding Your Policies and Coverage
Understanding your insurance policies is crucial, especially regarding your children’s needs. Reviewing your policy can help you understand what’s covered for your children, like their toys and furniture, if they’re damaged in a hurricane.
It can also help you know if your policy includes extra living expenses for temporary housing with enough room for your children. Typical insurance policies include homeowners and flood insurance, which might have different things they don’t cover.
Remember that flood damage usually needs its policy, separate from hurricane damage.
Filing a Claim
Filing an insurance claim after a hurricane can be overwhelming, but involving older children in the process can help rebuild their sense of security. They can help by documenting damaged belongings and creating a list of needs for temporary housing, which can give them a sense of control and contribution during a challenging time.
By involving and supporting them emotionally, you can help them feel more secure and resilient during recovery.
How Long Can I File an Insurance Claim After a Hurricane in Louisiana?
If your home was damaged by a hurricane in Louisiana and you’re still dealing with the aftermath, you might be wondering how long you have to file a claim. According to RS 22:1264, you usually have 180 days to file your claim. This time frame can be extended in certain situations.
Even though you have 180 days to file your claim, it’s best to let your insurance company know as soon as you find out about the damage to your property. This way, you can start the claims process and avoid missing any deadlines.
What Does the 180-Day Deadline Cover?
It’s common for homeowners to be unsure about the 180-day deadline. Here are some key points to remember:
- The law doesn’t require property owners to finish their insurance claims within 180 days.
- Insurance companies aren’t required to make an offer within 180 days.
- To meet this deadline, you need to show the insurer proof of your covered losses, which can include photos and videos.
- Homeowners don’t need to go back to their homes or finish repairs within the 180-day deadline.
What Are the Common Hurricane Insurance Claim Issues in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, when a hurricane hits, it can cause many problems for families. One big issue is insurance claims for damage to children’s spaces and belongings.
Damages to Children’s Spaces
Children’s rooms, like playrooms and bedrooms, are special places where they feel safe and happy. After a hurricane, these rooms might be ruined by water or broken things. When parents try to get money from the insurance company to fix these rooms, they might face problems.
Sometimes, the insurance company might not agree on how much it will cost to repair everything. They might say it will cost less than it does. This can make it hard for parents to bring their children’s spaces back to how they were before the storm.
Belongings Replaced With Inferior Quality Items
Another issue is when children’s belongings, like toys, clothes, or furniture, are damaged. Parents might file a claim to get money to replace these items. However, the insurance company might only give them enough money to buy cheaper, lower-quality items.
This means kids might not get back the things they loved or might get something that’s not as good as what they had before.
These problems can make a tough time even harder for families. Parents need to understand their insurance policy and get the right legal help if they have trouble with their claims. This way, they can ensure their children’s spaces and belongings are properly fixed or replaced, helping them feel safe and happy again.
How Can I Protect My Rights as a Family After a Hurricane?
After a hurricane, families need to protect their rights, especially when it comes to getting help from insurance for damaged things. Here are some steps to take:
- Keep Good Records. Write down everything damaged in your home, especially your children’s things. Take pictures and keep receipts for any repairs or replacements. This will help you when you talk to your insurance company.
- Understand Your Insurance Policy. Read your insurance policy carefully to know what’s covered and what’s not. This will help you understand what you can ask for when you file a claim.
- File Your Claim Quickly. Don’t wait too long to file your insurance claim. The sooner you file, the sooner you can get help.
- Get Legal Help. If you’re having trouble with your insurance claim, consider talking to a lawyer who knows about hurricane insurance. They can help you understand your rights and fight for what you deserve.
- Stay Safe and Healthy. Remember to take care of your family’s health and safety first. Ensure your home is safe to live in, and get medical help if anyone is hurt.
- Stay Informed. Follow news and updates from local officials. This will help you determine what resources are available and what steps to take next.
Your Trusted Legal Partner in Hurricane Preparedness
Being prepared for hurricanes is crucial for families. Having a plan and reviewing your insurance policies is important to understand what’s covered. There are specific legal rules for hurricane insurance claims in Louisiana, so knowing your rights is essential.
If you’re unsure about your insurance coverage or need help with a claim, consider consulting with a trusted hurricane insurance claim lawyer from Hammond Law Group LLC. We can provide legal guidance and help you navigate the claims process.
We can also assist you with Bad Faith Insurance Claims and Homeowners Insurance Claims. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about our services and how we can assist you with your insurance claims.
