Insurance Claim HQ: The One Hurricane Prep Step Most Homeowners Overlook
August marks the height of hurricane season in the U.S., a time when weather reports, evacuation routes, and emergency kits take center stage.
Author:K. N.Sep 14, 202532.8K Shares556.2K Views
August marks the height of hurricane season in the U.S., a time when weather reports, evacuation routes, and emergency kits take center stage. Yet, while many homeowners rush to secure sandbags and stock up on supplies, few consider what might be the most important step in storm preparation: documenting their property.
According to Galen M. Hair, founding attorney of Insurance Claim HQ, a nationally recognized property insurance attorney licensed in multiple states, this often-ignored task is the key to avoiding financial devastation after a storm. “Document the contents inside your home. Take photos of everything, I mean, everything,” Galen says in a recent video. Without documentation, it’s your word against theirs. And in many cases, that’s not enough.
The Storm Is Coming, So Is the Adjuster
When a hurricane damages your property, the aftermath is more than physical. It’s emotional, chaotic, and filled with questions.
That's where pre-storm documentation becomes your strongest weapon. Galen encourages homeowners to go beyond a quick sweep of photos. Instead, film slowly and methodically. Walk through every room. Open every drawer. Scan closets, attics, and pantries. Describe items aloud, noting brands, serial numbers, or anything else that establishes value.
Insurers often deny claims based on alleged pre-existing damage, depreciation, or worse, by accusing homeowners of exaggerating losses. Detailed documentation, especially video with voice-over descriptions, leaves less room for doubt. It transforms your insurance claim from a story into evidence.
“There is a big difference between getting a quick video of the inside of your closet and actually thumbing through your clothes and getting video that actually captures the tags,” Galen emphasizes.
Protect the Proof That Protects You
Even those who do document their belongings often make one critical mistake: they store everything on the same devices they’ll take with them during evacuation - or worse, leave behind in the home.
It’s not just the storm that threatens your evidence - it’s power outages, flooding, and lost phones. That’s why Galen advises uploading all photo and video documentation to a secure cloud storage platform such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud.
Insurance Claim HQalso recommends storing printed copies of your insurance policy, ID cards, emergency contacts, and receipts in a waterproof folder. This analog backup could be vital if digital access is delayed after a storm.
The firm recently released a detailed Hurricane Prep Guide, reminding homeowners to treat documentation as essential as water, flashlights, and batteries. The checklist includes everything from non-perishable food to important papers - a visual reminder that digital protection is just as critical as physical preparation.
Accordingto the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. averages 14 named storms and 7 hurricanes per season, and with warming oceans, those numbers are likely to climb. In a landscape where annual storms are inevitable, documentation isn’t optional. It’s essential.
A Legal Perspective Shaped by the Storm
Galen’s insights into disaster preparation aren’t just drawn from legal books; they come from real experience on the ground. His journey began in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, where he volunteered in New Orleans, helping families gut homes and salvage memories. That experience stayed with him.
Years later, while working in insurance defense law in New York, he saw how insurers operated and how delays, denials, and legal loopholes often overwhelmed the average homeowner. However, it wasn’t until he helped a client whose house burned down that everything shifted.
“Navigating the complexities of insurance can be overwhelming, but with the right guidance, claimants can level the playing field,” Galen says.
That moment sparked a career pivot. Galen founded Insurance Claim HQ to advocate for people who don’t have teams of lawyers behind them. Since then, he and his team have recovered over millions of dollars for thousands of policyholders.
One client story that continues to drive Galen’s work involves a 90-year-old woman whose home was devastated by fire. The insurance company delayed assigning an adjuster and eventually offered a grossly inadequate payout. Galen and his team brought in expert witnesses, deposed the company in court, and pushed the case toward trial. In the end, they secured a significant bad-faith settlement not just because the facts were on their side, but because they had the evidence to prove it.
From his experience litigating high-stakes insurance cases to his early days cleaning up storm-damaged homes, Galen has seen firsthand what separates the overwhelmed from the empowered. It’s not just luck. It’s preparation.
Also, preparation doesn’t start with plywood and sandbags; it starts with your phone. It starts with proof.
With August storms here and peak hurricane season underway, Galen and his team at Insurance Claim HQ aren’t just urging people to prepare physically. They’re reminding homeowners that their financial future may depend on what they record today.
Take the time, walk around your home, film your things, and upload it all to the cloud. It may feel tedious now, but when the skies clear and your insurer starts asking questions, you’ll be glad you did. When disaster strikes, the most powerful tool you can have isn’t just insurance - it’s evidence.
About Galen M. HairGalen M. Hair, Managing Partner at Insurance Claim HQ, is a nationally recognized property insurance attorney known for aggressively representing policyholders across the U.S. With thousands of families helped and a reputation for high-stakes litigation wins, he has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star and one of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Learn how to protect your property from disaster at www.insuranceclaimhq.com.
About Insurance Claim HQInsurance Claim HQ is a premier property casualty insurance law firm powered by Hair Shunnarah Trial Attorneys and headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana. With hundreds of millions recovered for thousands of clients, the firm brings years of legal experience and unmatched insight into how insurers operate. Discover how they fight for policyholders at www.insuranceclaimhq.com.
K. N.
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