Responding to Hurricane Michael
Restoration firms should be prepared to respond to Hurricane Michael, which came on the heels of Hurricane Florence, which caused between $20 billion and $30 billion in damage to the Carolinas, according to CoreLogic. Around 57,000 homes are at risk of storm surge from Hurricane Michael, with a reconstruction cost of more than $13 billion, CoreLogic reports. When preparing to respond to any storm, experts say restoration firms should tap into relationships with other restoration professionals in the affected area, inquiring whether they could use any help as their job numbers significantly increase. They also should have a plan before heading to the affected area, determining, among other things, where the crew will sleep, where they will obtain fuel, and whether they have all the necessary equipment. Finally, they should know how to have conversations with property owners about how the work will be paid and how to evaluate their insurance policy to know if the damage will be covered.