The Becker Disaster Recovery Practice Group assists clients with all aspects of catastrophic incidents that may befall a condominium association or any shared ownership community, including hurricanes, windstorms, tornadoes, fires, floods, lightning strikes, mold, pipe breaks, major leaks, sinkholes, etc.
Becker attorneys have handled thousands of claims issues, including dozens of hurricanes in Florida, New York, and New Jersey. Our team approach provides a comprehensive set of services for all pre- and post-disaster needs in conjunction with our firm’s esteemed Community Association Practice Group and Construction Law & Litigation Practice Group, which includes board certified construction law experts, specific structural engineering experts, electrical/corrosion engineering experts, general contractor experts, estimators, adjusters, plumbing and other specific experts that know how to find damage and process claims. They are experts in what they do and our substantial experience tells us that to maximize recovery, you are best served by using a team that brings a wealth of experts to your rescue.
Our Disaster Recovery Group attorneys can readily assist with document rewrites, contract review, legal opinions for repair and replacement projects, assisting with banking needs including SBA loans, passing special assessments, and more. We can review your current insurance policies to determine whether those policies fully adopt the current statutory scheme in your state or have broader coverage available. We can also arrange a basic investigation for your community, at no cost, sufficient to determine whether you need to take the next step and notify your property carrier. The team offers a Disaster Preparedness and Recovery course that provides information about what to do prior to and after any kind of disaster.
We can likewise assist you with any of the following:
- Arranging documentation of your community (via video, photos and/or memoranda) for building components and critical records in order to facilitate your future insurance claim
- Contract review to ensure pricing, performance and insurance protections are in place
- Review of your insurance policies to identify requirements and financial obligations
- Developing a comprehensive Hurricane Plan
- Filing a lawsuit should your claim be denied or underpaid

In addition to our in-house legal services, Becker owns and operates Association Adjusting, a licensed and insured public adjusting firm led by Joseph “Joe Connelly (#E157037). Mr. Connelly has served as Executive Board Officer for the Florida Association of Public Adjusters (FAPIA).
Recognized as an authority in the community association industry, Association Adjusting has the expertise and experience to help community associations achieve the most favorable outcome possible. Our team of public adjusters, led by Mr. Connelly, provides clients with only the highest level of professionalism and excellence – whether you’re dealing with a claim that stems from hurricane damage, water damage, theft, fire, mold, roof leak, or any other type of calamity, our singular goal is to ensure your interests are always protected.
For more information visit http://www.associationadjusting.com.
Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery Guide
The state of Florida is no stranger to hurricanes and other natural disasters. Living in paradise doesn’t come without some risks associated with Mother Nature. The question is never just if our communities, homes and families will be impacted by a windstorm event, but when they will, and how we will prepare for and recover from that event.

Disaster Preparedness & Recovery: Are You Ready to Weather the Storm? – Online Class
Is your community prepared in the event that a hurricane strikes through your city? In this special course we will go over practical tips for developing and implementing a disaster recovery plan for your community…
Watch Now.

Anatomy of a Water Leak – Online Class
Water leaks are a major concern to association boards and unit owners alike. Come join our attorneys as they guide your association through the process of handling a water leak from detection through repair, insurance coverage and reconstruction responsibility, and potential liability claims….
Watch Now.

Disaster Resources & Links
Federal Emergency Management Agency for federal disaster response and recovery information
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for information about federal flood insurance
Information about Flood Insurance
Flood Resources: National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Contact Information: Phone: 1-888-FLOOD29 or 1-888-356-6329
Filing a Flood Insurance Claim
Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation
Notice of Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation
Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form
Are you prepared for Hurricane Season?
Preparing for Natural Disasters, and Recovering from them
Disaster Preparedness at Home: Filter Out the Damage
Disaster Prep & Self Storage – What You Need to Know
Emergency Preparedness for People Requiring Special Assistance
Contacting FEMA
Who needs Elevation Certificates and Why
National Assn of Insurance Commissioners Disaster Preparedness
Florida’s Largest Property Insurance Companies
Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), Division of Consumer Services, which handles all consumer-related questions and problems concerning insurance:
Florida contact information*: 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1- 877-693-5236)
*This is a toll-free helpline number and only available to consumers calling from a Florida number
Florida Division of Emergency Management for the latest emergency information
Catastrophic Ground Collapse in Florida
Florida Dept of Environmental Protection info about sinkholes
Florida Dept of Environmental Protection frequently asked questions about sinkholes
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America
Insurance Information for Consumers-what it does and how it works
Get quotes for Assn coverage and 7 Steps to Purchasing Insurance for a Condo Association
DISCLAIMER
Becker provides access to information on this website page as a public service. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all electronic information made available is current, complete and accurate, Becker does not warrant or represent that this information is current, complete and accurate. All information is subject to change on a regular basis, without notice. Becker assumes no responsibility for any errors in the information provided, nor assumes any liability for any damages incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of the website page. The inclusion of, or linking to, other website URLs does not imply our endorsement of, nor responsibility for, those web sites, but has been done as a convenience to our website visitors.
Perspectives
- Damage Due to Hurricane Irma? September 10 Deadline to File a Claim
- Becker Launches Public Adjusting Firm for Community Associations
- “Lessons We’re Learning from COVID-19,” FLCAJ Magazine
- “Disaster Planning Beyond Hurricanes,” FLCAJ Magazine
- Donna DiMaggio Berger Appointed Chair of Florida Bar RPPTL Section Pandemic Task Force
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