Catastrophe Restoration

Insurers, contractors, consumers used digital and virtual Verisk tools to process a record 140,000 claims as lockdown gripped the nation LEHI, Utah — Wednesday, June 30, 2021 —  The global pandemic and damage from winds and hurricanes had a profound impact on property claims and pricing trends throughout 2020, according to Xactware’s recently released 2020 Property Report for the United States. The volume of property estimates processed by Xactware, a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business, peaked in August with 883,128 claims, totaling $9.44 billion, the report shows. Catastrophic events set a record in the United States in 2020, with 19

In early October 2018, the Florida Panhandle braced for what was projected to be a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds reaching 111-129 miles per hour. In reality, Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida panhandle on Oct. 10 as a Category 5, making it one of the most damaging hurricanes ever to hit the region. And while some parts of the Panhandle were not affected, other areas were devastated with destruction beyond comprehension. Hurricane Michael became a very serious threat quickly, right before landfall, leaving very little time for the residents in the impact

RIA members typically take their trade very seriously and seek to identify themselves with the most current education along with possession of state-of-the-art technology. Members attend the annual International Restoration Convention + Industry Expo with this mission and expectation. However, while RIA members diligently seek to improve their own competence and product offerings, part of their effort has the distinct purpose of distinguishing their brand from the many far less reputable restoration brands that currently occupy the marketplace. Sadly, it seems that there are many restoration brands that are willing to provide services that

It is never too early to start thinking about the next hurricane season. Last year’s hurricane season brought two major hurricanes to the shores of the east coast, and rebuilding is expected to take years. Debris from storms often includes vegetation, construction materials and more. Restoration contractors interested in debris removal must first register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) System for Award Management (SAM), though it can take up to 30 days to become active. Once active, each contractor is assigned a commercial and government entity (CAGE) code, a five-character identification used by

Sharp, Robbins and Popwell LLC turns a story of tragedy into triumph and captures the Phoenix I Award for Reconstruction. It was reported that Hurricane Harvey was the most expensive storm on record, dumping more than 40 inches of rain in parts of Texas and causing nearly $200 billion in damage. This is a story of how one contractor leaned on its expertise, ingenuity, and a bit of expediency to help local residents rise above the storm. Remnants of the storm slammed into Middle Tennessee as a tropical depression late on the evening of

Changing the Landscape Nothing impacts a landscape like a hurricane, a tsunami, or a landmark lawsuit. This is particularly true if the lawsuit results are published throughout the land. No one benefits from a potentially precedent-setting case where all parties agree to a non-disclosure of the results. One of the most controversial issues in property claims today in resolving the question: Is it dry or not? There are other higher-dollar controversies in property claims, but none as numerous as the basic question of moisture penetration with all its ramifications, such as harmful bacterial contamination

PREFACE: This article consists of the text of the keynote presentation delivered at the Strictly TPAs event held in Nashville, Tennessee, in November 2017. In this presentation, I reviewed the history and current state of and made projections for disaster restoration, managed repair, and third-party administration (TPA) programs. These programs have grown over the years and will continue to increase in market share. Before I dig too deeply into the subject, I want to provide my perspective. My top motivation is to help create successful businesses. There is not a single path to success

Natural disasters are nothing to take lightly. And the 2017 hurricane season turned out to be the epitome of such a statement, proving to be one of the most costly in history. While there is no joy in disaster, the fact of the matter is that such circumstances require the aid of experienced catastrophic flood response mitigation and restoration contractors—which can ultimately prove to be highly profitable for those who have the resources. Unfortunately times like these also serve as a painful reminder to the realities of doing business today. It is not uncommon