Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Brevard County is located along the east Florida coast. Brevard County has a population of 543,376 and covers a total area of 1,557 square miles.
The county is generally considered to be made up of three sections, although this is unofficial. North County comprises of Titusville, Mims, and Port St John. Central Brevard includes Cocoa, Rockledge, Merritt Island, and Cocoa Beach. South County encompasses Melbourne, Palm Bay, Grant, Valkaria, and the South Beaches. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Canaveral National Seashore are two popular national wildlife sanctuaries in the county that offer activities such as hiking, wildlife viewing, paddling, and environmental education.
The overall climate here is subtropical humid with distinct wet and dry seasons. During the dry season (December to May), periods of drought often occur, leading to a persistent and high wildland fire threat. There have been many instances when fires had caused property damage, especially in 2008, when 162 homes were damaged. Hurricanes are quite common in Florida during the wet season from June through November but can have serious implications for the residents. Since 1950, five hurricanes have directly affected Brevard leaving behind destruction, flooding, and the resultant damages. Hurricanes tend to bring unusually high amounts of rain in a short amount of time, resulting in flooding.
At the moment, Hurricane Isaias is expected to pull away from Florida. Still, it could drop 2-4 inches of rainfall and continue to unleash wind gusts of 40-50 mph, causing power outages. Precious homes, purchased after years of saving and sacrifice, may become devalued or destroyed.
In August 2004, Hurricane Charley caused wind damage, destroyed thousands of homes, knocked down tens of thousands of trees, and left more than 2 million Floridians without power. But this was just the beginning, and many more hurricanes and tropical storms continued to strike Florida until October 2004. Many insurance companies pulled out of Florida due to heavy financial losses, and property insurance became a matter of concern for many homeowners. As of 2011, 32,000 Brevard policyholders are insured by the state-owned Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.
Some top insurance companies that offer customized policies are Allstate, State Farm, Allen Duncan Agencies, and American Insurance. Standard home insurance policies cover the primary risks, but coverage can be extended to damages resulting from snow, rain, or interior water damage, like broken water pipes. Some homeowner’s policies provide additional living expenses (ALE) coverage, which may include expenses for food, an alternate place to live temporarily, or other costs associated with maintaining your household.
Understanding and interpreting the clauses in your policy document when you are under great stress can be frustrating, especially when your insurance carrier is in a hurry to settle your claim. That’s when you need a public adjuster, who is qualified and experienced, to negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company. Brevard County public adjusters licensed from the state department of insurance, Florida, are the only type of claims adjusters that can legally represent you. A public insurance adjuster will assist you in understanding the coverage, the extent of losses, and preparation of estimates, and claim documentation.