Preparing for a Hurricane Helene Claim before the Storm
Hurricane Helene is currently in the Gulf and is picking up steam. It is currently expected to be making landfall in the Florida Panhandle, most likely near Tallahassee and then continue into Georgia as a Hurricane. It is not every day you see a full fledged hurricane in Georgia. This is likely going to be a strong storm and one that should not be taken lightly.
I am not going to tell you to stock up on water and gas as you have likely been inundated with that type of recommendations. Not to say it isn’t important, but we want to share tips that you may not have heard before.
- Document Your Property – Here is what we recommend: First, walk the exterior of your home taking a video, be sure to get every inch of your house from the roof to the grass (getting pictures or video of your roof is great but only do this if you are comfortable on roofs as it is not worth risking your life, if you have a drone, this makes it a lot easier). Next, go inside your home and do the same thing through each and every room and closet, here you want to capture everything from the ceiling to the floor. With these videos, you will be documenting not only the condition of the structure but also will be documenting your personal property. Next, store these videos in a cloud-based system such as Dropbox or Google Drive to ensure they will be there when you need them. Using these cloud based storage systems also makes it very easy to share with others.
- Secure copies of all of your insurance policies. Now is the time to make sure you have a full copy of all your insurance policies. You will also want to take pictures or scan these documents and store them in the same place as your videos as well & have a printed copy on hand. I am hoping that you have already reviewed your policy before now as you likely won’t be able to make any changes to it at this point. At a minimum, you should become familiar with your coverages, exclusions, and deductibles. Furthermore, if you are unable to locate a full copy of your policy, now is the time to reach out to the insurance company and request the same.
- Calling in your claim. When you call in your claim, they are going to ask about your damages. It is very important that you answer this question as thoroughly as possible while also leaving it open by advising them that you are not an expert and that you suspect there are more damages that you are not yet aware of. Request that they send a professional adjuster that can work with you to ensure that all damages are properly assessed.
- Mitigate your Hurricane Damages to the best of your ability. This includes putting a tarp on your home to stop the water from entering the property, boarding up windows and doors that may have been damaged, drying out areas that have been saturated by water, among other things. If you need assistance beyond what you can do yourself, ask your insurance company for help. Many insurance companies will have a preferred vendor list and these vendors are typically going to be fair with their pricing. If they are not willing to assist with this, be very careful when hiring these type of vendors on your own. Get pricing from them upfront & before signing the contract. Any ethical contractor will provide you with this and if they refuse…RUN! These contractors often have great sales pitches and will tell you not to worry and that your insurance company will pay them. This is not always the case, they will often do a Peer Review and pay what they feel is reasonable and these contractors will pursue you for the difference and we have seen several cases where they put a lien on a property. Furthermore these costs will be applied to your coverage limits and in the event of a large loss, this could interfere with you recovering the settlement that you need and deserve.
Quick Bonus Tip – If you have the means to pay the contractor upfront, we have had many clients tell the contractors that they don’t have insurance and will be paying directly. Typically, you will get the best deal doing it this way and there will be no surprises. These costs are typically going to be reimbursed during the claim process, just make sure to get a receipt and/or invoice showing it has been paid in full.
Most of all, stay safe and remember that this is why you have insurance. If you have any questions at all, we are always here to help as best we can.
Claim Concepts, Inc. is a Florida Based Public Adjusting Firm that handles claims throughout Florida, Georgia, & South Carolina. The team of Public Adjusters at Claim Concepts has decades of experience in both working for the big insurance companies as well as representing policyholders to ensure they recover proper settlements.
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Meet the Senior Public Adjusters at Claim Concepts
Our Commitment
Greg Roover, SPPA
Inspired by Personal Experience
Greg’s path to becoming a Public Adjuster was deeply personal. The Northridge Earthquake was a turning point, where his family’s experience with a public adjuster opened his eyes to the profound impact of this role. Greg embarked on a strategic career journey, motivated by a desire to help others as his family was helped. He honed his skills working for insurance companies as an independent insurance adjuster.
In 2006, Greg’s vision came to fruition with the founding of Claim Concepts. His insider knowledge, gained from years within the industry, and his passion for aiding others have been instrumental in the company’s success.
In 2025, Greg earned the Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA) designation from The Institutes, the highest designation available to public adjusters. Awarded only to seasoned professionals who complete a rigorous course of study and examinations, the SPPA reflects Greg’s commitment to mastering every aspect of the claims process on behalf of the policyholders he serves.
Greg’s expertise is not just in his impressive resume but in the countless testimonials from those he has aided, reflecting his dedication to securing the rightful settlements for our clients.
Greg's Expertise Backed by Industry Accreditations
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Florida Public Adjuster -
Lic #P017831 -
Georgia Public Adjuster -
Lic #2790971 -
South Carolina Public Adjuster -
Lic #716585 -
Tennessee Public Adjuster -
Lic #716858 - SPPA - Senior Professional Public Adjuster Designation
- NFIP Certified Flood Adjuster
- Former Independent Adjuster working for the Insurance Companies
- Former ICC Certified Residential Building Inspector
- Former Licensed: Mold Inspector/ Home Inspector
- Member FAPIA - Florida Association of Public Adjusters
- Member GAPIA - Georgia Association of Public Adjusters
Morgan "Eric" Thomas
From Adjuster to Advocate
Eric’s journey in the insurance world began in 1989, marking the start of a career defined by expertise and dedication. Fresh out of college, he jumped into the role of an independent adjuster, swiftly advancing to a general adjuster position at a major firm. There, Eric specialized in complex homeowners and commercial property insurance claims, showcasing his skill in navigating intricate scenarios.
In 2001, his career took a pivotal turn towards the construction aspect of insurance. As the General Manager for a renowned Insurance Restoration Contractor, Eric oversaw everything from estimating to maintaining vital relationships with insurance companies. His profound understanding of insurance and construction led him to Claim Concepts, where he now thrives as a Public Adjuster. His unparalleled insight has been crucial in ensuring that our clients receive the settlements they genuinely deserve
Eric's Expertise Backed by Industry Accreditations
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Florida Public Adjuster -
Lic #A263869 -
Georgia Public Adjuster -
Lic #3233218 -
South Carolina Public Adjuster -
Lic #3607940 -
North Carolina Public Adjuster -
Lic #3607940 - Former Independent Adjuster working for Insurance Companies (Since 1989)
- Former Insurance Restoration Contractor (Working for the Insurance Companies)
- Member FAPIA - Florida Association of Public Adjusters
- AIC - Associates In Claims
- Vale Institute - Large Loss Estimating
THE PROCESS
Our Proven Process Built on Precision, Leverage, and the Art of Resolving Complex Claims
Over many years, our team of seasoned professional Public Adjuster have developed a proactive claim management process to ensure our clients receive the proper settlement for their losses. We understand that proving your claim can be a daunting and time-consuming task, and we are here to alleviate that burden for you. Our goal is to make this process as seamless and stress-free as possible for you while ensuring that you recover the full and proper settlement for your loss that you need and deserve.
Step 1 - THE DISCUSSION
Your Claim, Our Strategy – It all begins with a no-obligation, in-depth review of your claim. We know that by the time most clients reach us, they’ve already experienced confusion, frustration, or a settlement offer that simply didn’t feel right. We will review all claim documentation including estimates, letters, policy, photos, and any other relevant items. We will then work directly with you to map out the most effective path forward. Rest assured that we will only make an offer to work with you if we are confident that we will add value to your claim.
Step 2 - THE EVALUATION
Exhaustive Inspection & Document Review – Once we partner, our team immediately gets to work on your claim. We dive deep into your policy to ensure we fully understand how it applies to your specific loss, while carefully reviewing all existing estimates, photos and documentation. We then conduct an exhaustive, technology-driven inspection of the property using advanced field tools to document every aspect of your loss, ensuring nothing gets overlooked.
Step 3 - THE DEMAND
Estimate Preparation & Submission – We develop a comprehensive, line-item estimate utilizing industry-standard software, subjecting it to a rigorous three-tier review process covering field accuracy, technical precision, and compliance, to ensure nothing is missed. Once completed, we share it with you for your review, input and approval before submitting our entire claim package to the insurance company as The Demand.
Step 4 - THE NEGOTIATIONS
Expert Negotiation, Focused on Your Best Outcome – We stand strong on your behalf, skillfully negotiating for the resolution you need and deserve. When negotiations stall, we don’t back down, we guide you through your available dispute resolution options, to keep your claim moving toward the outcome you deserve.
Step 5 - THE RESOLUTION
Successful Resolution, Your Satisfaction is Key: The final step, this is what everything has been building toward. A fair resolution isn’t just our goal, it’s our standard. Our clients’ outcomes speak for themselves, and yours will too!
CLAIM QUESTIONS? WE HAVE ANSWERS
Peace of mind! We are here to represent you and your interest in the claim. Unfortunately, insurance companies often times deny claims that should be paid or do not pay enough money on a covered claim. This is not always the case and even when it is it may not be intentional. I know that most adjusters have the best of intentions but sometimes they may be inexperienced or simply trained to see things one way, the way the big insurance company wants it to be seen. As Public Adjusters our number one job is to get you the largest settlement available to you under your policy with the insurance company.
NO. Most states have laws stating that Public Adjusters are not allowed to represent the insurance companies. At Claim Concepts, we only represent the insuring public.
The public adjuster is employed by you, the insured. Their function is to represent your interests and ensure that you recover the proper settlement for all of your losses per the terms of your insurance policy. The insurance company’s adjuster works for the insurance company and is responsible to protect their interests throughout the claim.
Public Adjusters typically work on a contingency basis which equals a small percentage of any money recovered by the insurance company.
NO! This is NOT required under any policy that I have seen to date and I do not recommend it. In the event of a loss it is best to employ a Reputable Public Adjuster that knows what the policy will cover and what it takes to get your property back to its pre-loss condition. Many contractors will provide you with a competitive bid to make repairs but not necessarily get your property back to its pre-loss condition.
Yes! In most cases we can reopen your file with a supplemental claim. There are many factors involved. Give us a call and we will be happy to offer you a free claim consultation.
Not necessarily. It is not recommended to file a claim every time you spill a glass of water as you may become classified as a nuisance claim maker. Property insurance is typically rated based on your area which is why all homeowner rates increased in Florida after the hurricanes, whether you filed a claim or not. The risk is more related to the area where your property is located and in commercial situations the use of the property. However, it is known that there are databases where claim activity is logged and each insurance company may have their own stipulations based on claim activity of the individual or the property. Ultimately, you buy insurance to protect you in the time of a loss. If you are debating whether you should file a claim or not, please feel free to call and speak with one of our Public Adjusters about your particular situation, we are always happy to help.
Do not do anything before having a qualified Public Adjuster or Attorney take a look at your file. Depending on the way everything is written you may be agreeing to their offer by depositing the check. Please call our office and speak with one of our Public Adjusters about your particular situation, we are always happy to help in any way we can.