Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina with fierce winds, rain, and flooding, leaving massive damage to homes, businesses, roads, and landscapes across the region. It is a true understatement to say this destruction is heartbreaking and devastating. Dealing with the loss of community members, roofs damaged by fallen trees, foundations cracked by floodwaters, homes and businesses completely washed away with little to no trace of them. It’s simply terrible. Our hearts go out for those severely affected.
On a much lighter note, Helene took little mercy on the group of folks who call themselves “the lucky ones.” Those who are lucky in our region still have a home to sleep in, cars to drive, and neighborhoods to drive out of. Although no power, WiFi, cell reception or safe water was and in many cases still is our reality, they are still lucky in comparison! When calling our clients to complete wellness checks we are getting a lot of reports back, “We were lucky!” They are lucky for sure, however, many if not most of our clients are also dealing with damage to their properties from high winds and fallen trees. We’ve had an influx of calls about storm damage to outdoor lighting systems, so we wanted to lay out our process for handling insurance claims to give you peace of mind.
Step 1: Full Diagnostic and System Assessment
To start, we always complete a comprehensive diagnostic of your entire outdoor lighting system. We want to catch everything, from broken fixtures and exposed wires to damaged transformers and connections. By getting a clear picture of what’s going on, we’re able to map out exactly what needs to be done for a complete restoration—because partial fixes just aren’t going to cut it after a storm like Helene.
Step 2: Detailed Damage Report with Photos and Estimates
Once the diagnostic is complete, we put together a detailed report outlining the necessary repairs. This includes a list of specific parts that need replacing, labor hours we estimate for the job, and high-quality photos documenting all visible damage. Insurance providers need these details to process claims efficiently, and it’s important to us that you have everything you need for the best chance of approval.
Step 3: Explaining Our Materials vs. Big-Box Store Products
Sometimes, insurance providers will compare the costs of our professional-grade materials with products they find at big-box stores. Here’s the thing: the parts we use aren’t the same as what you’d find on a store shelf. Our materials are built to last in outdoor environments, which means they’re far more durable, resistant to the elements, and reliable. We explain this both to you and your insurance provider, so there’s a clear understanding of why we prioritize quality. This approach ensures your system is restored in a way that lasts, instead of needing fixes every season.
Step 4: Working with Your Insurance Company
Dealing with insurance can feel like a lot of back-and-forth, so we’re more than willing to help communicate directly with your provider if needed. Our goal is to make the process straightforward by providing all the documentation and answering questions upfront, so you’re not stuck managing the logistics alone. Our team is here to support you from start to finish.
Step 5: Quality Restoration of Your System
Once the claim is approved, our team goes to work, using top-tier materials and the best repair practices to restore your system to its former glory—or maybe even a little better. We know how important outdoor lighting is to your property, both for safety and for that beautiful finishing touch it provides, so we take each project seriously and treat it as if it were our own.
Ready to Help You Move Forward
We know this is a challenging time, and our team is here to help shoulder a bit of the load. If your outdoor lighting has been damaged, reach out. We’ll walk you through every step, make sure you’re fully informed, and get your lighting back up and running so you can enjoy your property as you did before.
If there is something else you need, please reach out to us. If you need help with something other than outdoor lighting, let us know! If we can’t do it, we know someone who can! We are here for our community in any way possible.
WNC Strong!