Hurricane, Tornado & Wind Damage | Norcia Insurance Consultants

Next Week is Severe Weather Awareness Week

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Norcia Insurance Consultants

Did you know that April 13 through April 17 is Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week? Every year, Minnesota’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) collaborates with the National Weather Service and 16 different state and local agencies and organizations to raise awareness of the seasonal threats that severe weather can bring. The intent is to teach Minnesota residents how to avoid severe weather or, if they cannot avoid the bad weather, what to do before, during and after the severe weather hits.

Severe Weather Awareness Week features two very important events: two statewide tornado drills. On Thursday, April 16, sirens throughout the state will be tested to ensure that they all work properly in the event of a tornado. And these tests are a great time for residents to practice their tornado drills and to educate their families on what to do when the alarm sounds for real. The drills will be held at 1:45 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. During these drills, all statewide sirens will sound off and all NOAA weather radios in Minnesota will also sound the warning alarm.

On average, Minnesota experiences 40 tornadoes a year. The record was set in 2010 when 104 tornadoes touched down throughout the state.

Each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week will focus on a different topic:

Monday: Alerts and warnings

Tuesday: Severe weather, lightning and hail

Wednesday: Floods

Thursday: Tornadoes (including statewide tornado alarm tests and drills)

Friday: Extreme heat

If you visit the Severe Weather Awareness Week site, linked to above, you can get more information about each day’s topics.

Emergency preparedness is especially important this time of year. While the warmer temperatures and milder weather are both great for outdoor activities and fun, the weather can change at the drop of a hat. It can go from sunny and pleasant to stormy and dangerous in a matter of minutes. And when you hear a tornado siren go off, it is imperative that you and your loved ones know what to do and where to go so everyone is as safe as possible.

And if the worst does happen and a tornado or another severe weather event affects you, call us at Norcia Insurance Consultants. We are public insurance adjusters serving the entire state of Minnesota, as well as Wisconsin. Call us when you need help with your insurance claims. We can help make sure you get the money you deserve from your insurance company.

Call 866-512-LOSS (5677) or Schedule a Free Consultation.

Severe Weather: Warning vs. Watch

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Norcia Insurance Consultants

There are a few ways you can tell for sure if bad weather is coming your way. You may notice the sky get dark or the wind pick up. But, when you’re listening to the television or radio, do you understand what the broadcaster is saying? Knowing the difference between a severe weather watch and a severe weather warning can be lifesaving information. Whenever severe weather strikes, know our team of public insurance adjusters serve Minneapolis, Green Bay and more. Call us to get somebody on your side.

Severe Weather Warning

A severe weather warning is issued when there is a chance that bad weather will strike your area. It means that the weather isn’t an immediate threat, but it’s time to start getting prepared. If there is a tornado warning, pull in your freestanding lawn furniture. If there is a severe thunderstorm warning, it’s time to find the flashlight. Keep your eye on the weather, as a warning may quickly change to a watch, especially with fast moving storms.

Severe Weather Watch

A severe weather watch occurs when there is dangerous weather threatening your immediate area. For example, if there is a flood watch, it means there is flooding occurring in your area at that moment. When you see a severe weather watch, it is time to act. Take shelter, if necessary and take extra precautions.

After Severe Weather

Once severe weather has moved through the area, you may notice some damage around your property. If this is the case, you’ll want to have someone one your side, when dealing with your insurance company. That’s where we come in. Our team is prepared to take on all communication with your insurance company, to help make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Are you in need of a public insurance adjuster? Give us a call today at 866-512-LOSS (5677) or request a free consultation online.

Summer Tornados in Wisconsin

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Norcia Insurance Consultants

Tornados can be one of the most alarming natural disasters. Those of you who have experienced one can testify nothing can truly prepare you. The residents of the Fox River Valley, WI found out how true that is on Aug. 7. After a tornado hits your town, there’s not much you can do but start rebuilding. For those in Wisconsin, insurance claims help isn’t something that should worry you. The team at Norcia Insurance Consultants can help put the pieces back together.

Fox River Valley
The National Weather Service confirmed six tornados touched down in the Fox River Valley on the night of Aug. 6 into Aug. 7. The storm sustained 60 to 70 mph winds for about two hours, peaking at about 120 mph. The wind damage was extensive, knocking out power and downing trees. Crews acted quickly to restore power and after just two days, approximately 90% of customers regained power. Typically, Wisconsin sees about 23 tornadoes a year.

Preparedness
It is important to do your best to be prepared for a tornado. Having a plan for you and your family for emergency situations can save lives. But, sometimes tornados take us all by surprise. The meteorologist who put the storm forecast together for the Fox River Valley area on Aug. 6 admits he was surprised by the widespread damage. Once you find yourself caught in a tornado outbreak, you just have to do the best you can to wait it out.

Aftermath
After the storm’s fury has passed, the rebuilding and healing processes must begin. When you experience a traumatic event, your head will be spinning. It’s important to have a reliable public adjuster on your side. If you need any insurance claims help, our team is trained to help. We can assist you with a clear head and handle all communications with your insurance company.

Need insurance claims help in Wisconsin, give us a call today at 866-512-LOSS (5677) or contact us online.

Public Insurance Adjusters Perspective: How Safe is Minneapolis?

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Norcia Insurance Consultants

There are many of us who have lived in Minnesota our whole lives. Have you ever stopped to consider how safe it is to live here, in terms of natural disasters? In this blog, we’re only going to cover a few of the most significant natural disasters that affect our state. If you live in Minnesota, our team of Minneapolis public insurance adjusters can help you recover after one of these major events. We can work with you to get what you deserve from the insurance company.

Tornadoes
Though tornadoes around the Twin Cities rarely reach a deadly magnitude, we reside right on the cusp of Tornado Alley. The number of reported tornadoes has increased in recent years, but the number of lives claimed has decreased. This is most likely due to upgraded weather tracking technology available today. There were a reported 37 tornados in Minnesota in 2012, heavily concentrated in the summer months. Out of a reported 932 confirmed tornadoes in the United States, 37 is a relatively low number. This says to us, that in terms of tornadoes, Minnesota is a pretty safe place to live. These storms can still cause substantial property damage, and insurance claims have undoubtedly been filed.

Wildfires
The subject of wildfires has been in the news a lot recently. In the same way tornadoes are capable of causing damage, wildfires can cause a lot of property damage. Minnesota had a large increase in wildfire activity in 2012. That being said, we still had fewer fires than most of the country. We haven’t surpassed the national average in over five years. Again, this leads us to believe that of all the places to live in the United States, Minnesota is a good choice. We thoroughly understand the impact on those in Minnesota who have been affected by a wildfire. If you’re in need after a wildfire, we can help.

Out of these two considerations, our opinion is Minnesota is a pretty safe place to reside. This doesn’t mean that these occurrences don’t happen. You still need to practice safety precautions at all times.

To get a Minnesota public insurance adjuster on your side, call Norcia Insurance Consultants today at 566-512-LOSS (5677) or Request a Free Consultation.