When Hurricane Harvey first made landfall on August 25th, it was the first major hurricane to hit Texas in ten years. Harvey made landfall just northeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, subjecting the coastal community to relentless wind, rain, and storm surges. In the months since Harvey, much of Corpus Christi is still struggling to rebuild.
In the days and hours before the storm, the National Hurricane Center warned Corpus Christi residents that Harvey’s storm surge would peak between 9 and 13 feet and carry as much as 40 inches of rainfall. When Harvey ripped through Corpus Christi, the National Weather Service clocked winds of 63 miles per hour at Corpus Christi International Airport. Harvey’s impact was devastating for Corpus Christi. The storm managed to collapse several buildings with people inside. Search and rescue worked tirelessly to free trapped people and evacuate residents.
Hurricane Harvey’s Slow Moving Nature Caused Significant Damage
Compared to other major hurricanes, Hurricane Harvey was particularly slow moving. This means that areas in Harvey’s path like Corpus Christi were subjected to hurricane force winds and rainfall for much longer, causing significant damage. To make matters worse, it wasn’t until after the storm passed that property owners discovered the flood maps of Corpus Christi are 33 years old. In the months after the storm, new flood maps have been drawn up and are currently under review, but preliminary findings indicate Corpus Christi is much more prone to flooding than the out-of-date maps indicated.
Corpus Christi Business Owners Struggling To Rebuild
Rebuilding in Harvey’s wake has been incredibly challenging for Corpus Christi business owners. The damage caused by Harvey was two pronged: first, the storm ripped off roofs and other critical building components, opening up the interiors of buildings to the elements, and second, the relentless rainfall destroyed interiors and contents.
Because there are two types of damage related to Corpus Christi Hurricane Harvey claims (wind and interior water damage), business owners are learning the hard way how complicated commercial insurance claims can be. Business owners are desperate to get up and running again to generate revenue, but many insurance companies are unnecessarily delaying, grossly undervaluing, or completely denying valid claims. This is crippling Corpus Christi’s recovery, but policyholders do have options.
What To Know About Your Corpus Christi Hurricane Harvey Claim
Many insurance companies are fraudulently claiming some damage caused by Harvey is not covered under commercial insurance policies, when in fact it is. These denials are aimed at saving insurance companies from paying out claims, but this is wrong and illegal. There are a variety of bad faith tactics insurance companies are employing to limit claim payouts, and only experienced insurance lawyers know how to spot them and stop insurance companies in their tracks.
If you are still struggling with your Corpus Christi Hurricane Harvey claim or if your claim was underpaid or denied, you need the help of an experienced insurance lawyer to get what you are rightfully owed under your policy. At Raizner Slania LLP, our insurance lawyers have years of experience fighting dishonest insurance companies after natural disasters. Let us review your Corpus Christi Hurricane Harvey claim to help ensure you are getting what you rightfully deserve under your policy. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.