Hurricane Francine made landfall in Terrebonne Parish, LA, on September 11, 2024. The area sustained wind speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and life-threatening flooding due to heavy rainfall. The total losses from Hurricane Francine’s damage in Louisiana alone could reach $1.5 billion.
Were you impacted by Hurricane Francine? Seek assistance with your insurance claim from the Moore Law Firm.
Hurricane Preparations in Louisiana
In the days leading up to Francine’s landfall, cities issued hurricane warnings along the Gulf Coast. Louisiana governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency and sent 2,300 guardsmen from the Louisiana National Guard to the parishes likely to be affected by the storm.
School districts throughout Louisiana closed to allow families to evacuate. Officials issued mandatory evacuations in several towns and parishes, including Grand Isle, Lafitte, and Barataria. In others, curfews were issued to encourage residents to stay indoors.
Initial Damage Reports From Hurricane Francine
Hurricane Francine made landfall in Southern Louisiana at around 10 p.m. The storm surge, or the abnormal rise in sea level, was over four feet. Over the next several days, the state of Louisiana sustained maximum rainfall of 9.69 inches.
Hurricane Francine’s damage included the following:
- Power outages: As many as 450,000 people in Louisiana alone suffered from power outages, many of which were due to fallen debris. Power outages led to spoiled food, damage to electronic equipment, water contamination, traffic signal issues, and many other problems.
- Downed trees and power lines: The storm’s fierce winds caused countless downed trees, many of which landed on power lines. This led to road closures across the state.
- Flood waters: Several rivers in Saint Tammany Parish crested, leading to rising flood waters around housing units. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted water rescues to evacuate residents from flooded properties.
- Roof damage: Powerful winds tore shingles off of roofs, sent trees crashing down on homes, and altogether created extensive roof damage across Louisiana.
- Structural damage: Countless homes endured structural damage due to the gushing rains and heavy winds
The federal government approved a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declaration in Louisiana to provide emergency relief.
What To Do If You Experienced Damage From Hurricane Francine
A property data company estimated that insured losses from Hurricane Francine could reach $1.5 billion in Louisiana alone. This doesn’t cover the uninsured losses countless residents experienced.
Did your property sustain damage from Hurricane Francine? Take these steps to start the insurance claims process and restore your sense of normalcy as soon as possible:
- Seek shelter: If your home is uninhabitable, stay with a friend or in a hotel while awaiting repairs. Many insurance policies cover temporary housing during claims.
- Take photos of the damage: If you can safely do so, take photos of your property damage to submit with your claim.
- File an insurance claim: If you have homeowners’ insurance, file a claim as quickly as possible. Large scale storms often leave insurance companies overburdened, so you may have to wait some time for your claim to be approved.
- Report the damage: The Louisiana government encourages anyone who experienced storm-related damages to complete the Damage Assessment Survey. This helps document the impact of the storm.
- Seek updates on your claim: Call your insurance adjuster every few days for updates about your claim.
Insurance Refusing To Cover Your Hurricane Francine Damage? We Can Help
Louisianans are no strangers to devastating hurricane damage, but that doesn’t mean you should have to endure slow responses from your insurance company. Has your insurer lowballed you or denied your Hurricane Francine damage claim altogether?
Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience fighting back against insurance companies. Contact the Moore Law Firm today at 956-400-0000 for a free consultation.