When Hurricane Idalia slammed into Florida Wednesday morning, it became the eighth major hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast in the last six years. And it may not be the last; Atlantic hurricane season hasn’t yet peaked, and the Gulf of Mexico has been historically warm – more energy to fuel more deadly storms.

But as the tireless work of rebuilding begins in places like hard-hit Pasco County, Idalia’s landfall renews the question of whether it’s appropriate to rebuild in some areas and where to do so.

Human-caused climate change is wreaking havoc on the Gulf Coast, which is already experiencing some of the fastest sea level rise in the world. As the ocean swallows shore, it makes the impacts of storm surge and flooding more dangerous for the communities in these low-lying areas.

To make matters worse, many insurance companies are also pulling out of some Gulf states, leaving homeowners and businesses with more risk and fewer options to finance their recovery in a way that maty not leave buildings stronger and better able to withstand the next storm.

According to preliminary cost estimates from Moody’s, Hurricane Idalia caused between $12 billion and $20 billion in damage and lost output.

For context, Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Western Florida last year as a Category 4 storm, caused an estimated $112.9 billion of total damage in the United States, according to the National Hurricane Center. That made it the third-costliest US hurricane on record.

“Idalia may not go down in history as an especially costly event, but as climate change leads to more frequent storms that can intensify rapidly, events like it will grow more common over time.

“One of the major questions we have going forward is should we rebuild these areas and spend federal and state dollars to continue to rebuild areas that will be hit in the future,” Jesse Keenan, a professor of sustainable real estate at Tulane University’s School of Architecture, told CNN.

Consumer Law Office – Handling Property Damage Claims Start to Settlement.

The Consumer Law Office (CLO) knows how stressful it is to be forced out of your home after disaster strikes. If you are a victim of Idalia, immediately contact the experienced Florida Property Damage Attorneys at CLO to help you receive the maximum property damage compensation you are entitled to under your insurance policy, including ALE reimbursement.

 

CALL CLO TODAY 305-940-0924. GET YOUR FREE COMPREHENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND CONSULTATION

 

Ask for attorney MORDECHAI BREIER, Founder of CLO. Mordechai is on your side and will bring you peace of mind during this challenging time.

 

Your insurance company hires experts to protect their interests.

Your representation should be no different.

 

There are NO upfront fees, and we only get paid when you get paid by your insurance company.