We settle all kinds of property damage claims
FLOOD & WATER LOSS
Trust ICRS public adjusters to settle your flood & water damage insurance claim
When flood & water has devastated your life, calling a public adjuster about filing a flood & water claim can help you put the pieces back together
- Commercial Property Flood & Water Claims
- Multi-Family Property Flood & Water Claims
- High-Value Homes & Estate Flood & Water Claims
Public Adjuster for Flood & Water Claims
Water and Flood damage claims: what do I do first?
Once a water loss has occurred, the single most important thing you need to do is begin proper emergency mitigation. Removal and drying out should begin immediately. Consider employing an experienced public adjuster to guide you through this process. How a water loss is handled in the first 24 hours can be critical in the outcome of your property damage claim.
For example, we often see insurance company adjusters interested in saving money for the carrier, neglecting to remove baseboards and other finishes. This prevents air from circulating throughout a building’s wall system. Wet carpet needs to be pulled in total, or you may be harboring conditions that could lead to further damage or mold.
Sticking a blower in an up-lifted carpet corner will not get the job done as the padding is often soaked and needs to be replaced. It is commonly known that mold can grow in 72 hours. Whether you’re dealing with a fire, flood, hurricane, pipe burst, or another type of water damage, time is of the essence.
Water damage insurance claims – Properly drying out a structure, removing and replacing material that has water damage from a flood, hurricane, tornado, or fire can be complex, time-consuming, and frustrating. Navigating policy language, industry protocols, avoiding mold growth, and being properly indemnified for the loss of use requires a professional you can trust.
- Commercial Business Owner Flood Insurance Policies covered under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) limit currently $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for the building contents. These are typically purchased separately with separate deductibles.
- Homeowner Owner Flood Insurance Policies covered under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) limit currently $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for the building contents . These are typically purchased separately with separate deductibles.
STEP 1: Notify Your Insurer To Start Claims Process
- After experiencing water damage, contact your agent or insurance company to file a water damage claim. Ensure you have an insurance company policy in hand or request a copy of it from your agent.
- A telephone and/or email address where you can be reached at all times in writing via email or fax.
- Any pre-loss photos of your damaged property will be useful in proving your claim
STEP 2: Document The Damage
- Separate damaged from undamaged property. Your adjuster will need evidence of the damage to your property and possessions to prepare your repair estimate.
- Take photographs of all of the damaged property, including discarded objects, structural damage, and standing floodwater levels.
- Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their date of purchase, value, and receipts, if possible.
- Officials may require disposal of damaged items so, if possible, place flooded items outside of the home.
STEP 3: Complete A Proof Of Loss To Support Your Claim
- Your property damage attorney can assist you in preparing a Proof of Loss (which is your sworn statement of the amount you are claiming, including necessary supporting documentation) for your official claim for damages. A Proof of Loss can be many things but must contain the details outlined in the Homeowner, Commercial or Standard Flood Insurance Policy. You’ll typically need to file your Proof of Loss with your insurance company within 60 days of the loss. This document substantiates the insurance claim and is typically required before the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or insurance company will make a payment.
- You’ll receive your claim payment after you and the insurer agree on the number of damages, and the insurer has your complete, accurate, and signed Proof of Loss. If major catastrophic flooding occurs, it may take longer to process claims and make payments because of the sheer number of claims submitted.
We will recover the maximum amount for your flood or water damage insurance claim.
Other tips
- All water restoration technicians need to be IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified and follow the guidelines provided by the IICRC.
- Typically, your insurance company will cover the ensuing damage but sometimes, not the cause of the loss. This applies for most plumbing fixtures, including water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and sprinkler systems. The bad news is that typically insurance policies do not provide coverage to the damaged pipe themselves and the owner may be responsible to pay for the plumber costs associated with the repair or replacement of a broken pipe.
- Most states have consumer insurance codes that protect you, the insured policyholder, from unnecessary delays, underpayments and denial of policy benefits.
- We exclusively represent the interests of policyholders. Our team will document your damages, interpret your policy, handle all the inspections, paperwork, negotiations, code compliance and hold your insurance company accountable ensure they pays you timely, accurately and to the full legal value of your policy.
3 Categories of water
- Clean Water – Some examples of this are a pipe break within the wall or a supply line to a plumbing source. During an attic mounted water heater failure, while clean water is released, it is running through dirty insulation and often times attics prior to its final destination. There are times when clean water losses may become grey water losses.
Grey Water – Some examples of this are overflows from your washing machine, toilet overflow or tub overflow. A washing machine, though clean water, is considered grey because of the organic matter contained inside of it, which can include hair follicles, skin cells, and even fecal matter. - Black Water – Some examples of this are sewage backup, and surface water flooding. Often times, there are special limits to the amount of coverage provided for sewage backup and no coverage for flood (flood will be insured through the National Flood Insurance Program and in rare cases attached as a rider through your mortgage company). In the event black water damages are not mitigated immediately and properly, mold damage is inevitable.
4 Classes of water damage
A moderate amount of water discharge, which is found in reasonable amount of time, can be cleaned and mitigated with limited to no building material removal outside of flooring.
This level will affect an entire room or multiple rooms and building material is being affected.
This is a large amount of water and will affect ceilings, walls, insulation and flooring.
This is labeled as a specialty situation with an unmaintainable amount of water intrusion and has had time to saturate into the materials such as hardwoods, brick and stone.
Precautions to prevent freezing pipes:
- Clean your gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely.
- Turn on your faucets and allow them to drip slowly. Moving water will prevent freezing.
- Heat your house to a minimum of 65 degrees in the winter.
- Open cabinet doors below sinks. It will help allow warm air to circulate.
- Drain your water system if you’re away for an extended time.
- Disconnect all gardening hoses and install covers on all outside faucets.
- Identify the location of the main water valve and the valve on your water heater. (Learning the location of these valves may come in handy during an emergency.)
- Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or with heating tape. This can prevent freezing, especially for interior pipes that run along outside walls.
- Close all windows near water pipes; cover or close open-air vents. Freezing temperatures combined with wind drafts can cause pipes to freeze more frequently.
- Heat your basement and consider weather sealing your windows.
- Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home.
- If you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time, shut off water supply valves to your washing machine.
Monitor freezing pipe conditions
- Allow a faucet to drip slightly (lukewarm water) in order to minimize freezing.
- The first sign of freezing is reduced water flow from a faucet.
- Check your faucets for water flow and pressure before you go to sleep and again when you wake up.
- Check pipes around your water meter, in unheated areas, near exterior walls and in crawl spaces. These tend to be vulnerable to freezing conditions.
- Identify cold air drafts coming in from a flue or chimney chase and caulk gaps that are near pipes.
If a pipe freezes
- If a faucet or pipe inside your house freezes, you can thaw it using a good hair dryer. (For safety purposes, avoid operating a hair dryer around standing water.)
- To thaw a frozen pipe, heat water on the stove, soak towels in the hot water and wrap them around cold sections of the pipes.
- When thawing a pipe, start thawing it nearest to the faucet. Make sure the faucet is turned on so that melted water can drip out.
If a pipe bursts
- Shut off water at the main valve.
- If the break is in a hot water pipe, the valve on top of the water heater should be closed.
- Call a plumber. Keep an emergency number nearby for quick access.
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Risk-Free Loss Recovery Offer
Get a complimentary consultation on your commercial or multifamily flood & water damage insurance claim. We are flood & water claim adjusters who work for policyholders, not the insurance company. If you choose to hire us, we work on contingency. No recovery, no fee.  Our flood & water insurance claim process is proven and streamlined. We also value your privacy. We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others.
Need immediate flood & water damage insurance claim help?
TESTIMONIALS
What Client Says About ICRS
It pays to know ICRS – “747% Higher Payments with a Public Adjuster for Claims related to a 2005 Hurricane”
Our experience with ICRS was a five star experience ; we received more money than what the insurance company had offered for an apartment fire, plus we recieved money that we thought we would not get. GREAT JOB.
Sign : Cornell Williams
Sign : Cornell Williams
Scott and his entire team so incredibly knowledgeable, their is no way we could have accomplish what we did without their guidance. Keep us the great work!!!!!
They are truly a Lifesaver!
I cannot say enough good things about Insurance Claim Recovery Support — they truly feel like earth angels. Misty and Scott helped me through one of the most overwhelming and helpless times of my life. As a single woman dealing with major home renovations after a severe water leak, I was unfortunately taken advantage of by a dishonest contractor. From breaking my TV and not saying a word, to lying about repairs, damaging my sprinkler, inflating estimates with bogus charges, and even threatening legal action — I was completely overwhelmed.
That’s when Misty and Scott stepped in. Their knowledge of the laws and the insurance claims process is unmatched, and their compassion and support were exactly what I needed. They knew exactly how to handle the situation, empowered me with the facts, and guided me every step of the way. They genuinely listened, made me feel heard and understood, and stood by my side when I needed it most. I am beyond grateful for their integrity, expertise, and kindness. If you’re facing a tough insurance claim situation, do not hesitate to reach out to them — they are absolute professionals and true advocates and helped me feel safe in my own home again.
I cannot say enough good things about Insurance Claim Recovery Support — they truly feel like earth angels. Misty and Scott helped me through one of the most overwhelming and helpless times of my life. As a single woman dealing with major home renovations after a severe water leak, I was unfortunately taken advantage of by a dishonest contractor. From breaking my TV and not saying a word, to lying about repairs, damaging my sprinkler, inflating estimates with bogus charges, and even threatening legal action — I was completely overwhelmed.
That’s when Misty and Scott stepped in. Their knowledge of the laws and the insurance claims process is unmatched, and their compassion and support were exactly what I needed. They knew exactly how to handle the situation, empowered me with the facts, and guided me every step of the way. They genuinely listened, made me feel heard and understood, and stood by my side when I needed it most. I am beyond grateful for their integrity, expertise, and kindness. If you’re facing a tough insurance claim situation, do not hesitate to reach out to them — they are absolute professionals and true advocates and helped me feel safe in my own home again.
I spoke with Scott about a commercial claim, and he was incredibly helpful. He provided detailed explanations about how policies and adjustments work, making everything much clearer. I really appreciated his thoroughness and knowledge!
After a nightmare experience dealing with an underpaid commercial property insurance claim from a hailstorm in Dallas, we were fortunate enough to find Scott and Misty Friedson at Insurance Claim Recovery Support (ICRS). Had we not hired them, we would’ve left $127,000 on the table - money we didn’t even know we were owed.
Scott and Misty are absolute professionals. Their knowledge of the insurance claim process is unmatched, and they navigated our case with skill, integrity, and relentless attention to detail. On top of that, they’re HAAG certified roof inspectors, which made all the difference in proving the true extent of our damages.
Looking back, we wish we had hired ICRS from the very beginning. It would have saved us so much stress, time, and lost money. If you’re dealing with an insurance claim - especially a commercial one - don’t wait. Call ICRS.
We’re beyond grateful for everything they did for us.
Scott and Misty are absolute professionals. Their knowledge of the insurance claim process is unmatched, and they navigated our case with skill, integrity, and relentless attention to detail. On top of that, they’re HAAG certified roof inspectors, which made all the difference in proving the true extent of our damages.
Looking back, we wish we had hired ICRS from the very beginning. It would have saved us so much stress, time, and lost money. If you’re dealing with an insurance claim - especially a commercial one - don’t wait. Call ICRS.
We’re beyond grateful for everything they did for us.
ICRS has been a beacon of hope during one of the most challenging times in my life. After my home was struck by lightning nearly nine months ago, dealing with USAA has been nothing short of a nightmare. They have grossly underpaid my claim, and I was at my wit’s end after countless hours of research, discussions with attorneys, and trying to figure out how to rebuild my home without compromising my financial future.
Scott and Misty from ICRS have been the most honest, supportive, and knowledgeable people I’ve encountered throughout this ordeal. They made me feel heard and understood, which was a welcome relief after so many interactions with professionals who seemed more interested in their bottom line than in helping me.
Scott guided me through this incredibly complex and stressful process with expert advice, giving me the clarity and confidence I desperately needed. His and Misty’s commitment to doing what’s right for their clients is unmatched. They genuinely care and provide guidance and support that feels personalized and sincere.
Thanks to Scott and Misty, I’m back on track and no longer feel overwhelmed. ICRS has saved me countless hours of stress and struggle, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone dealing with a large-loss claim after a storm. Trust me—making them your first call can save you immeasurable frustration and help you navigate this difficult path with sound advice and unwavering support.
Thank you, Scott and Misty, for everything you’ve done!
-Jason Cheshire
Scott and Misty from ICRS have been the most honest, supportive, and knowledgeable people I’ve encountered throughout this ordeal. They made me feel heard and understood, which was a welcome relief after so many interactions with professionals who seemed more interested in their bottom line than in helping me.
Scott guided me through this incredibly complex and stressful process with expert advice, giving me the clarity and confidence I desperately needed. His and Misty’s commitment to doing what’s right for their clients is unmatched. They genuinely care and provide guidance and support that feels personalized and sincere.
Thanks to Scott and Misty, I’m back on track and no longer feel overwhelmed. ICRS has saved me countless hours of stress and struggle, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone dealing with a large-loss claim after a storm. Trust me—making them your first call can save you immeasurable frustration and help you navigate this difficult path with sound advice and unwavering support.
Thank you, Scott and Misty, for everything you’ve done!
-Jason Cheshire
Found this firm very responsive with honest advice. Based on our discussion, I actually did not hire them, at least yet, because my claim doesn't require the service. They easily could have pushed to sign me up, but did not. We have just gone thru flooding of our home and it is appreciated not being taken advantage of now.
In 2023, our family woke up to a nightmare. Our house was filled with smoke and on fire. We able to get our son and pets out of the burning house without injury, and our local fire department arrived quickly and put out the fire. By the time that the fire was out, most of our home was destroyed. We contacted our insurer to start a claim and were immediately met with opposition and confusion on their part. It took several weeks for them to assign an adjuster to our claim. This initial experience led our decision to hire a Public Adjuster to navigate the process and advocate on our behalf. We couldn’t trust that our insurer would handle the claim responsibly, and we quickly realized that we needed someone to fight for us to hold them accountable to our policy. We were extremely fortunate to find ICRS and secure Scott as our Public Adjuster.
Our Insurer mislead us and withheld information. It took weeks for them to provide a copy of our policy, and when they did, they excluded information that benefited us. ICRS pressured them to provide a full copy of our policy which included the benefits they had initially excluded.
Our Insurer provided a scope that was not aligned with the actual cost of rebuilding our home. ICRS countered with a realistic scope and advised us to secure independent quotes on our own. ICRS then leveraged its scope and the independent quotes to force our insurer to provide more realistic amount for the rebuild. The scoping process took months, and ICRS drove the communications the entire time.
The first adjuster that our insurer assigned to our claim arrived at the site visit and interview with a combative attitude, where he used inappropriate language, and attempted to force the negotiations their favor by manipulating the facts. ICRS swiftly called out the adjuster and guided the negations back on track.
Our Insurer cycled through four adjusters during our claim. The pass-down of information between these adjusters was insufficient, with each new adjuster attempting to avoid payout using the same methods that failed with the last. We were astonished that a company could act in this manner without serious recourse. ICRS was able to leverage emails, photos, inspection reports, and additional documentation to bring the adjusters up to speed after each transition. ICRS’ efforts kept the claim moving every time our insurer attempted to stall.
When our Insurer misrepresented the policy and refused to pay out for damages that were covered, ICRS drove the communications process and provided documentation, which included case-law excerpts from similar claims that had gone to trial. This approach provided breakthroughs on vital areas of the negotiations. ICRS provided a paper trail and documentation that our Insurer couldn’t ignore, and ultimately they were forced to pay out due to the exposure that ICRS had made apparent.
ICRS increased the overall claim by more than 20% during the planning and rebuild process through supplements. Through negotiations with our Insurance company, ICRS increased the claim by 104% over what was released up-front in our initial settlement. Additionally, the payout ICRS secured for us was 31% higher than our policy limit.
Before that fire, we had heard insurance companies pull out every trick in the book to avoid paying out on a policy. Having gone through this experience, we can say that the behavior on our insurers part was far worse than we had ever imagined possible. We advise with 100% conviction that anyone dealing with a large loss such as ours, hire a public adjuster to navigate and advocate on their behalf in order to get the needed results. Our family could not have rebuilt our home with the funds our insurance company provided, and we only have a home to return to because of ICRS’ efforts to hold our insurer accountable for the policy we had paid for. Throughout the claim, which lasted over a year, ICRS navigated the entire claim process with professionalism and care. Our family offers a sincere thank you to Scott, Misty, and the entire ICRS team.
Our Insurer mislead us and withheld information. It took weeks for them to provide a copy of our policy, and when they did, they excluded information that benefited us. ICRS pressured them to provide a full copy of our policy which included the benefits they had initially excluded.
Our Insurer provided a scope that was not aligned with the actual cost of rebuilding our home. ICRS countered with a realistic scope and advised us to secure independent quotes on our own. ICRS then leveraged its scope and the independent quotes to force our insurer to provide more realistic amount for the rebuild. The scoping process took months, and ICRS drove the communications the entire time.
The first adjuster that our insurer assigned to our claim arrived at the site visit and interview with a combative attitude, where he used inappropriate language, and attempted to force the negotiations their favor by manipulating the facts. ICRS swiftly called out the adjuster and guided the negations back on track.
Our Insurer cycled through four adjusters during our claim. The pass-down of information between these adjusters was insufficient, with each new adjuster attempting to avoid payout using the same methods that failed with the last. We were astonished that a company could act in this manner without serious recourse. ICRS was able to leverage emails, photos, inspection reports, and additional documentation to bring the adjusters up to speed after each transition. ICRS’ efforts kept the claim moving every time our insurer attempted to stall.
When our Insurer misrepresented the policy and refused to pay out for damages that were covered, ICRS drove the communications process and provided documentation, which included case-law excerpts from similar claims that had gone to trial. This approach provided breakthroughs on vital areas of the negotiations. ICRS provided a paper trail and documentation that our Insurer couldn’t ignore, and ultimately they were forced to pay out due to the exposure that ICRS had made apparent.
ICRS increased the overall claim by more than 20% during the planning and rebuild process through supplements. Through negotiations with our Insurance company, ICRS increased the claim by 104% over what was released up-front in our initial settlement. Additionally, the payout ICRS secured for us was 31% higher than our policy limit.
Before that fire, we had heard insurance companies pull out every trick in the book to avoid paying out on a policy. Having gone through this experience, we can say that the behavior on our insurers part was far worse than we had ever imagined possible. We advise with 100% conviction that anyone dealing with a large loss such as ours, hire a public adjuster to navigate and advocate on their behalf in order to get the needed results. Our family could not have rebuilt our home with the funds our insurance company provided, and we only have a home to return to because of ICRS’ efforts to hold our insurer accountable for the policy we had paid for. Throughout the claim, which lasted over a year, ICRS navigated the entire claim process with professionalism and care. Our family offers a sincere thank you to Scott, Misty, and the entire ICRS team.
ICRS is phenomenal! They walked us through all the loops we needed to jump through. They went to bat for us when we weren't even sure we were in the game! Thank you Misty and Scott! We are more appreciative than we can put into words!
I definitely recommend ICRS! Scott and Misty went above and beyond to advocate on our behalf and help us navigate the nightmare of a large loss insurance claim. Scott has worked as a public adjuster for more than 15 years. He was extremely knowledgeable about the process, laws, and holding the insurance company accountable. The initial amount the insurance company agreed to would not have been enough to restore our property, and Scott negotiated to maximize our claim.
Hands down the absolute best customer service, always responsive, knowledgeable and always eager to help!
Very knowledgeable and helped me through an insurance nightmare. Look no further.
Scott is extremely knowledgeable and competent. He assisted and provided direction enabling me to improve my claim. I highly recommend Scott and his company, ICRS.
Extremely helpful and friendly.
Very knowledgeable. Thank you for helping!!
Very knowledgeable. Thank you for helping!!
ICRS was very helpful to our condo association in connection with our recent property damage claim settlement. We are not insurance pros, but when some aspects of the insurer’s settlement offer did not appear to match up with our asessment of damage, ICRS helped us understand what further claims of damage were realistic and helped us achieve success on those claims.
Words can’t describe how grateful we are for the consultation and claim evaluation we had with Scott. Full disclosure we were unable to work with him due to limitations of our scope. We wanted to properly recognize Scott for the honest and genuine passion he put in to not only our claim, but the way he runs his business in general. We hadn’t had such clarity of next steps since this began in 2020. I would highly recommend this business to everyone spinning their wheels in this process!
Scott responded to my inquiry and took the time to listen and understand our unpleasant experience dealing with our insurance claim. Although I did not utilized his service, he gave me a sound, professional advice and offered to help when he referred me to his engineer. They replied promptly and I was able to have better understanding of the situation. Thank you Scott!
This was not the first public adjuster I called. I called a different company first but they gave me a bad feeling on the phone. Too aggressive. Didn't feel trustworthy to me. So, I kept looking. I came across this company and I had none of those bad feelings. Scott, the guy who took my call, seemed very knowledgeable and I felt I could fully trust him. As it turned out, he told me that my claim was fairly simple and I didn't need the full scope of his service and fees. But, without charging me a fee, he gave me some needed advice on this whole matter of insurance claims which I needed. And told me I could call him back to ask another question or two if necessary. I would recommend this company for these services.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a public adjuster and what do they do?
A public adjuster is a licensed insurance professional who specializes in helping policyholders navigate the complex process of filing and negotiating property damage insurance claims. Public adjusters represent the policyholder’s interests, not the insurance company’s, and work to ensure that the policyholder receives a fair and prompt settlement for their claim. Their duties include evaluating the damage, reviewing the insurance policy, preparing a detailed claim, and negotiating with the insurance company on behalf of the policyholder.
When should I hire a public adjuster?
You should consider hiring a public adjuster if you are facing a large or complex property damage insurance claim, such as those resulting from fire, water, or storm damage. Public adjusters are particularly helpful when the scope of the damages is unclear, the insurance company’s offer seems insufficient, or there are disputes about the cause or extent of the damage. Hiring a public adjuster early in the claims process can help ensure that your claim is properly documented, and your interests are well-represented throughout the process.
How are public adjusters compensated?
Public adjusters typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they successfully recover a settlement for you. Their fee is usually a percentage of the total settlement amount, which is agreed upon in advance. This percentage can vary depending on the complexity of the claim and the location, but it usually ranges from 5% to 15% of the total settlement.
How do public adjusters differ from insurance company adjusters?
Insurance company adjusters are employed by the insurance company and work to protect the company’s interests. Their primary goal is to evaluate the claim and determine the amount the insurance company is liable to pay, which may not always align with the policyholder’s best interests. On the other hand, public adjusters are independent professionals who work exclusively on behalf of the policyholder. Their primary goal is to ensure that the policyholder receives a fair and prompt settlement for their claim.
Do I need a public adjuster if I already have an insurance agent or broker?
While insurance agents and brokers can provide valuable guidance and assistance in filing an insurance claim, they may not have the specialized expertise required to manage complex property damage claims. Public adjusters have extensive experience in assessing damages, interpreting insurance policies, and negotiating with insurance companies, which makes them better equipped to handle large or complicated claims. Hiring a public adjuster can be especially beneficial if you are not satisfied with the settlement offer from your insurance company or if you are facing disputes regarding the cause or extent of the damage.
