Pre-storm deployment
Forecasting and staging
- Carriers track NHC forecast cones
- Adjusters pre-deployed to staging areas
- Logistics coordinated (hotels, vehicles, equipment)
- Independent adjuster firms contracted
Priority classification
- High-value policies flagged for priority response
- Commercial policyholders prioritized
- Historical claim-frequency properties monitored
- VIP policies (executives, political figures) sometimes separately staged
Post-storm response
First 72 hours
- Quick assessment and tarping authorizations
- High-severity claims prioritized
- Life-safety situations first
- Documentation focused on triage
Weeks 1-4
- Field inspection volume peaks
- Standardized scope sheets
- Contents inventory often deferred
- Initial payments for essential mitigation
Months 2-6
- Complex claims, supplementals, disputes
- Large-loss adjusters arrive
- Forensic engineers retained
- Reinsurance involvement
Months 6-18
- Supplemental filings
- CRN and mediation activity
- Litigation filing
- Long-tail handling
Staffing patterns
Internal staff
- Core catastrophe team deployed
- Home-office support ramped up
- Overtime authorizations
External independents
- National IA firms contracted (Eberl, Pilot, CNC, etc.)
- Rapid licensing for non-FL IAs
- Training on carrier-specific procedures abbreviated
Volume expectations
2,000
5,000 claims per firm per event
50
100 claims per adjuster over the deployment
30
90 minute average inspection times
Policyholder implications
- First inspection typically fast, incomplete
- Expect scope gaps
- Supplementals often required
- Be present for inspection if possible
- Document yourself
- Retain representation early