What to Do After Your Home Is Damaged in a Hurricane in Louisiana

MyLouisiana Home Got Hit by a Hurricane — Now What?

When a hurricane tears through your community, the aftermath can feel overwhelming. For residents in places like New Orleans, Metairie, Jefferson Parish, and across Southeast Louisiana, storm damage is a familiar, yet devastating, reality. Homes are flooded, roofs are torn apart, and what once felt safe can suddenly feel uncertain.

In the chaos, knowing what to do next and doing it fast can make a critical difference in your recovery. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the most important actions to take after hurricane damage, especially when dealing with insurance claims in Louisiana. If your property was affected, speaking with a home damaged hurricane attorney in Louisiana early can make the entire process faster and protect your rights from the start.

At Bloom Legal Network, we help policyholders fight back when insurance companies delay, underpay, or deny valid claims. You’ve paid your premiums — now it’s time to protect your rights!

Step 1: Document Everything Immediately

After the storm passes and it’s safe to return, your first priority is to document the full extent of the damage to your home.

• Take comprehensive photos and videos of all structural damage, both inside and outside the home.
  
• Don’t forget to photograph personal belongings, water damage, and any roof issues.
  
• If you’re in areas like St. Charles Parish or St. Tammany Parish, make note of location-specific conditions (e.g., flooding patterns, debris from levee breaches, etc.)
  

This documentation becomes critical evidence for your insurance claim, especially if you later face disputes about coverage, causation (wind vs. flood), or scope of loss.

Need help understanding what to document? The team at Bloom Legal Network know exactly what insurers look for.

Step 2: Secure Your Property to Prevent Further Loss

Insurance policies often include a requirement that homeowners take “reasonable steps” to prevent additional damage. This is known as the duty to mitigate.

In practical terms, this means:

• Placing tarps on damaged roofs
  
• Boarding up broken windows
  
• Removing wet drywall or carpeting
  
• Shutting off utilities if there’s risk of further flooding or fire
  

Save all receipts and track any out-of-pocket costs — these may be reimbursable under your policy.

Not sure what your insurance actually covers? Bloom Legal Network can help you interpret the fine print.

Step 3: Notify Your Insurance Company Right Away

Contact your homeowners’ insurance company to report the damage. Provide initial photos, a brief description, and request a claim number.

Do not wait to file, especially in places like New Orleans and Jefferson Parish where post-storm claim volumes can cause significant delays.

Keep a written log of all communications, including:

• Dates and times of phone calls
  
• Names of representatives you speak to
  
• Summaries of each conversation
  

Important: If your claim is denied, underpaid, or if the adjuster blames your damage on “pre-existing conditions,” don’t accept that as the final word. You have rights.

Step 4: Understand the Difference Between Wind and Flood Damage

In Southeast Louisiana, many properties face damage from both high winds and rising water. Here’s where things get complicated:

• Wind damage (e.g., roof torn off, windows shattered) is typically covered by homeowners insurance.
  
• Flood damage (e.g., water seeping into your home from rising outside levels) usually requires separate flood insurance through FEMA/NFIP or private policies.
  

Insurers may try to shift blame from one to the other, particularly if they believe one policy provides less coverage. This often leads to delays, finger-pointing, or outright denial.

Bloom Legal Network can help you challenge unfair insurance denials and lowball offers. Let us advocate for what you’re truly owed!

Step 5: Be On Alert for Bad Faith Insurance Practices

After major hurricanes like Ida or Zeta, policyholders across Louisiana reported a surge in bad faith tactics by insurance companies.

Watch for signs like:

• Delays with no updates
  
• Lowball offers that don’t match repair estimates
  
• Misrepresentation of your policy terms
  
• Requests for excessive documentation to stall the process
  

Louisiana law (including La. R.S. 22:1973 and 22:1892) protects you from bad faith behavior. If your insurer is intentionally dragging their feet or offering far less than your documented losses, you may be entitled to penalties and attorney’s fees on top of your claim.

Step 6: Consult with a Hurricane Insurance Attorney

Sometimes, the only way to get fair treatment is to involve a legal professional who knows the system — and isn’t afraid to push back.

A skilled hurricane insurance lawyer can:

• Analyze your policy and identify potential gaps in coverage
  
• Help gather additional evidence to support your claim
  
• Negotiate directly with the insurer or pursue legal action if necessary
  
• Protect you from bad faith tactics and recover maximum compensation
  

Whether you’re in St. Tammany, Jefferson, or deep in the heart of New Orleans, you deserve full and fair compensation after a hurricane.

At Bloom Legal Network, we don’t represent insurance companies — we represent people. If your claim is stuck, denied, or mishandled, let us step in and fight for your recovery.

Rebuild Smarter With the Right Legal Team By Your Side!

Rebuilding after a hurricane is hard enough without having to battle your own insurance company. You’ve paid your premiums. You’ve done your part. Now it’s time to demand what you’re owed.

Whether you live in Metairie, St. Charles Parish, or anywhere in Southeast Louisiana, Bloom Legal Network is here to support you at every stage of your hurricane recovery — learn more about what to do after home damaged hurricane Louisiana and how to protect your claim.

📞 Call 504-599-9997
📧 Email us at info@bloomlegal.com

We’ll connect you with a dedicated property damage attorney who understands Louisiana law, local insurers, and the storm patterns that shape this region and who will work tirelessly to secure the compensation you need to rebuild your home and your life.