Tornado Damage Reported Northeast of Treasure Coast
A Tornado was caught on video forming and crossing I-75
On the same day storms ripped through much of the Treasure Coast, a tornado was caught on video in Marion County crossing I-75. The videos caught by travelers on I-75, and confirmed by Florida Highway Patrol, show the tornado damaging trees and causing an accident involving a tractor trailer carrying a portable building.
Insurance Issues Related to Tornadoes
Mobile homes are a common target for tornadoes and other storms with high winds. They are often the first to sustain damage from tornadoes and other windstorms, and are first to be evacuated in the event of a hurricane. Being on the back of a tractor trailer during a storm isn’t doing it any favors!
Mobile homes and manufactured homes often have insurance policies that are different than a standard homeowners insurance policy and can have different implications in the event of damage or an insurance claim. Often these policies are more similar to an automobile policy and although the damages are similar to a home, in addition to being able to adequately repair or rebuild the building, there are also implications with regard to the title to the property, whether it will become a salvage title if repairs exceed a certain threshold of the policy limits, or whether, in the event of a total loss, the insurance company will take the remnants as salvage (different from a salvage title mentioned before).
If you have a mobile home, manufactured home, or other portable building that has sustained damage from tornado or other windstorm, call the public adjusters at VIP Adjusting for a free policy review and to discuss your options with regard to making an insurance claim.
Are there any issues raised by the building being in transport?
In this instance, because the building was being transported on a trailer at the time of the tornado, there are other insurance policies and coverages that may afford coverage for this type of damage.
Because it was portable, the damaged building may be covered as personal property under an insurance policy, but a policy review would be absolutely necessary.
Due to the fact that it was being transported, the building may also be covered under an “inland marine” policy. Inland marine policies contain some really unique language that a lot of people are not used to seeing because they insurance policies have literally been adapted and evolved over centuries from marine shipping insurance for cargo traveling overseas.
Inland marine policies are the result of centuries old language now being applied for cargo shipped over land instead of on the high seas. VIP Adjusting has handled claims for demurrage, barratry, business equipment and personal property damaged out of state by superstorm sandy, and even an inland marine claim related to a gold heist.
If you’ve had important products damaged in shipping, VIP Adjusting would be glad to review your insurance policy with you, as well as any other parties that may be at fault for your losses.
Damages Routinely Caused by Tornadoes and Windstorms
When strong storms like the ones that have passed through Indian River County, St Lucie County, and Martin County in the last week, damages similar to those caused by hurricanes can result at just about any property in the storms’ paths.
You may see a leaking roof as a result of the wind loads across sections of your roof, or other roof damage from trees, tree limbs, or other flying debris.
Hail can cause damage to tile roofs and shingle roofs, as well as windows, screens, and exterior elevations, as we saw from the hailstorm in Brevard County last year. There have been multiple hail events in the last 10 days throughout the Treasure Coast, and we expect to see similar damages.
If you’ve seen any of these types of damages after a strong storm, contact VIP Adjusting today so that we can assist you in documenting your claim and preserving evidence in your favor.
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