As August marks the height of hurricane season, homeowners across the country are bracing for another round of powerful storms. However, the team at Insurance Claim HQ continues to remind policyholders that real protection begins long before the winds pick up. It starts with proper planning, understanding your coverage, and keeping all the documents you’ll need for a strong claim safe, organized, and ready.
The team is led by Galen M. Hair, a nationally recognized property insurance attorney licensed in multiple states. He’s known for his determined litigation style, big courtroom wins, and tireless work helping policyholders fight unfair claims practices. This unwavering commitment to continual improvement has led him to be named a Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Top Lawyer by New Orleans Magazine, the Pro Bono Publico Award recipient, and the winner of numerous other accolades.
Plan Like the Power Will Go Out Because It Probably Will
When hurricanes make landfall, they bring more than wind and water. They bring power outages, downed cell towers, and disrupted communication. This is why one of the most overlooked forms of hurricane prep isn’t physical – it’s digital. Galen says too many people rely solely on their phones for storing crucial information, and those phones often die when they’re needed most.
He recommends that homeowners create a physical folder with printed copies of their insurance policy, photo IDs, emergency contacts, and any documentation of valuable items. That folder should be stored in a waterproof bag and kept in a location that is easily accessible if evacuation becomes necessary. If you’ve taken the time to document your home with photos and video, back up everything to a cloud service and email it to yourself or a trusted contact.
In a recent video, Galen says, “Document the contents inside your home. Take photos of everything, I mean, everything.”
This preparation becomes especially important as storm frequency increases. According to NOAA, the U.S. averages 14 named storms and seven hurricanes per year, with climate trends indicating a likelihood of stronger storms in the future. That means this level of preparation isn’t just for worst-case scenarios – it might be the new normal.
Know Your Policy Before the Adjuster Does
In the rush to prepare homes and stock supplies, few people take the time to sit down and actually read their insurance policy. However, Galen believes this is a mistake that can cost homeowners thousands of dollars. Policies are complex documents, full of exclusions, limits, and confusing terminology. Yet, the better you understand your policy, the better prepared you’ll be to challenge lowball offers or unfair denials.
His team often sees clients shocked to learn that certain parts of their homes or types of damage aren’t covered or that their policy has a high hurricane deductible that significantly reduces their payout. Galen encourages homeowners to review their policies annually, especially ahead of hurricane season. Look for coverage on wind, flooding, and loss of use. If you have questions, ask a lawyer not after the storm, but before.
Insurance Claim HQ has helped recover over $1 billion in claims for more than 70,000 policyholders. Many of those cases began with a simple misunderstanding of what the policy did or didn’t cover. Galen believes that knowledge is power – and in this case, it’s financial security.
After the Storm: Protecting the Claim You’ll Need to Make
When the storm passes, the real work begins. It’s the moment many homeowners make critical mistakes that could jeopardize their claims. Galen has observed people discarding damaged items too quickly, failing to report issues promptly, or waiting too long to contact a professional. Each of these missteps can complicate or reduce a potential payout.
Instead, he advises that once it’s safe, policyholders should take thorough post-storm photos of all damage, make a written inventory of any losses, and notify their insurance provider as soon as possible. However, don’t stop there. Contacting an attorney early on, before dealing with adjusters, can help homeowners avoid costly mistakes and feel supported through the process.
At Insurance Claim HQ, Galen’s team doesn’t just step in after damage is done. They believe in proactive support – before, during, and after the storm. Their hurricane preparation guide, updated regularly, is designed to walk homeowners through each phase of the process.
For the team at Insurance Claim HQ, hurricane season isn’t just a time of year – it’s a call to action. With vast experience in property insurance law and a commitment to client education, they’ve become a trusted ally for families along the Gulf Coast and beyond.
Their message is simple but urgent: don’t wait for disaster to strike. Prepare now, plan wisely, and when the storm passes, you’ll be ready to claim what’s rightfully yours.
About Insurance Claim HQ
Insurance Claim HQ is a premier property casualty insurance law firm powered by Hair Shunnarah Trial Attorneys and headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana. With over $1 billion recovered for more than 70,000 clients, the firm brings 25+ years of legal experience and unmatched insight into how insurers operate. Discover how they fight for policyholders at www.insuranceclaimhq.com.
