This past weekend, Winter Storm Kenan made its presence known in the upper east coast region of the United States. The Weather Channel tells us that, Winter Storm Kenan met blizzard criteria Friday night into Saturday afternoon at Boston’s Logan Airport; throughout eastern Massachusetts and in Rhode Island; along the coastal strip of New Jersey; along the Delaware Beaches; in Suffolk County, New York, in New London County, Connecticut; and in Portland and Augusta, Maine.”
The Weather Channel also tells us that there were 83 mph wind gust reported on Cape Cod! The Weather Channel reported that Sunday morning about 50,000 homes and businesses remained without power- most of them in the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this ferocious winter storm.
Winter Storm Season is Not Finished Yet!
Another winter storm is right on the heels of Kenan- Winter Storm Landon!
Winter Storm Landon is set to impact the United States this Tuesday – Friday.
With the impact of Winter Storm Kenan, and Winter Storm Landon, it is likely that there will be an uptick in property damage insurance claims from; frozen pipes, ice damage, leaking roofs, and wind damage. A portion of these claims could even be underpaid, delayed or even denied.
Forecast Timing
The Weather Channel reported that,” Tuesday night, snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected to become widespread from the Rockies into the Plains and parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes.”
The Weather Channel also tells us that ”On Wednesday, Groundhog Day, this wintery mess will persist in many of these same areas with the potential for heavy snow in spots. This snow, sleet and ice could extend as far south as Oklahoma and even parts of northern Texas.”
The Weather Channel reports that, “Eventually, this mess will spread into the Northeast later Wednesday, but snow, sleet, and ice maybe confined to parts of the interior Northeast and northern New England as warmer air pumping in on southerly winds may change precipitation to rain in southern New England and the mid-Atlantic, including areas affected by Winter Storm Kenan this past weekend.”
The Impact of a Winter Storm
As we have experienced in Texas last February, winter storms are not to be taken lightly. More times than not they produce traffic accidents, property damage, power outages, and even loss of life.
The recent winter storms have taught us that, it is always a good idea to pay close attention to your local forecast, and to take the necessary precautionary measures advised.
Frozen Pipes:
We have written previous VLF blogs regarding winter storm preparedness tips. One important tip to remember is the wrapping of pipes prior to the storm.
In an article by This Old House, it is stated that “When water freezes, it expands in volume by 9%. When this happens, in a closed pipe, the ice displaces the water, which increases its pressure exponentially. If this is allowed to go on for too long, the pipe will burst.”
As discussed in earlier VLF blogs. Insurance carriers do handle claims the correct way in many instances. However, sometimes this is does not ring true as claims are delayed, underpaid, or even denied.
Insurance Claims
We have published several earlier blogs on the insurance process, specifically as it relates to winter storm damage at www.deniedclaim.com
As reported on in earlier VLF blogs, when there is a winter storm event of magnitude, sometimes insurance companies will try to mitigate their losses by certain time tested tactics.
A good policyholder attorney will hold the carrier’s feet to the fire when claims arise. It is well documented that insurance carriers can sometimes implement various tactics when trying to lessen their financial exposure to claims, including: underpayment, denial, and the delay of claims. This is no surprise, given the record number of increasing weather events, and fires in the last several years (as
documented in earlier VLF blogs).
This is why it is important to consult with a reputable policyholder attorney when filing a claim, and especially if your claim has been denied, delayed, or underpaid.
The Voss Law Firm, P.C. has been protecting policyholder’s rights for the past sixteen years, recovering billions of dollars in settlements for our clients.
Feel free to call, or email today for a free consultation on your file.
We are 100% contingency fee based. No recovery, no fee.
Todd Farr- Director of Client Relations.
