What Josh Berkowitz’s NBC Interview Means for Storm Claims
By Josh Berkowitz, CEO and Co-Founder of Crestview Public Adjusters
My NBC News interview explored how stronger building materials may reduce property damage. The report showed UL Solutions testing products against severe weather conditions. For property owners, the insurance lesson starts with a distinction: a product rating describes tested performance. Your policy and the cause of damage determine coverage.
At Crestview Public Adjusters, we help homeowners and building owners in New York and New Jersey review storm claims. Windows and doors deserve attention beyond broken glass, including their frames, locks, and hinges.
Key Points:
- Josh Berkowitz’s NBC interview connects storm-resistant building products with decisions owners face before and after damage.
- Product identification and contractor findings help explain the repairs a claim needs.
- Estimate differences require supporting evidence, while insurance incentives follow the insurer’s program rules.
What I Discussed on NBC News
I joined NBC News to discuss the insurance side of stronger construction. My comments addressed investing in stronger materials and possible insurer incentives for water detectors. The discussion connected steps owners can take before damage with the insurance questions that follow a loss.
NBC correspondent Shaquille Brewster visited UL Solutions’ Northbrook, Illinois, laboratory. The report showed testing that examines how building products respond to flying debris and wind pressure. UL performed the testing; my contribution brought the policyholder’s perspective. UL’s recap of the NBC report explains the laboratory work.
My interview clip covers both themes. The sections below connect them to window and door claim questions.
What Does Impact-Rated Mean for Windows and Doors?
An impact rating describes how a product performs under specified debris-impact tests. The tested product may include several parts together, such as glass, its frame, and hardware. Those parts form an assembly.
Different tests answer different questions. A product’s model, testing standard, and installation requirements explain what its rating covers.
| Test | What It Evaluates | Record to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Debris impact | How the assembly responds when flying debris strikes it | Product model and impact standard |
| Wind pressure | How the assembly responds to specified pressure loads | Pressure rating and installation requirements |
| Water leakage | Water entry under the test’s conditions | Test report or manufacturer documentation |
The windstorm testing standards vary by product and intended use. Hurricane opening protection and tornado storm-shelter products have different requirements. A rated window does not, by itself, make a room a storm shelter.
How Do Product Ratings Affect a Storm Insurance Claim?
Product records can help identify a damaged window or door and explain its repair requirements. An impact windows insurance claim still requires a review of what happened and what the policy covers.
New debris damage raises a different question from a seal that leaked before the storm. Rain entering through a damaged opening also differs from rising floodwater. Homeowners policies generally exclude flood damage, which requires separate coverage.
Our hurricane and storm claim support includes reviewing policy terms alongside damage records. We look at the reported cause, proposed repairs, and applicable limits. A deductible is the portion of a covered loss you bear under the policy.
For homeowners, this policy declarations page summarizes coverage limits and deductibles. The full policy and any added coverage documents provide the terms needed for a claim review.
Which Window and Door Records Help Explain the Damage?
A repair request needs enough detail to connect the damaged opening with the proposed work. The records below can help answer different parts of that question.
| Record | What It Helps Explain |
|---|---|
| Product label, invoice, or model details | Which window or door was installed |
| Product approval and installation records | The product’s requirements and installation history |
| Dated photos of glass, frames, hardware, and nearby rooms | The location and visible condition of damage |
| Contractor findings and itemized estimates | Which repairs are needed and why |
We compare these records with the insurer’s estimate. When the damage raises technical questions, our team coordinates with relevant specialists. A contractor’s written explanation gives the insurer more to review than a line that simply says “replace window.”
Safety comes before photos. Broken glass, unstable openings, and wet electrical equipment require caution and qualified help. Prompt insurer notice and necessary temporary protection should not wait for a completed document folder. Receipts can record the cost of safe board-up or other temporary work.
Why a Storm Repair Estimate May Leave Out Needed Work
An estimate may omit damaged parts or tasks needed to complete a repair. A higher contractor estimate alone does not prove underpayment. The difference needs an explanation tied to the property and policy.
Three questions help organize the comparison:
- Which parts have damage? Glass, frames, locks, and hinges may need separate findings.
- Which related tasks are necessary? Removal, installation, nearby finishes, and interior repairs need supporting details.
- Which policy terms affect the amount? Deductibles, depreciation, limits, and coverage for required code changes can affect payment.
Depreciation means a reduction for age or condition under the policy’s terms. That reduction differs from leaving a repair task out of an estimate.
For example, an insurer’s estimate might list replacement glass while a contractor documents a bent frame that prevents the window from closing. That hypothetical claim needs a comparison of the findings and repair methods. We review supported differences and discuss them with the insurer. Our article on reviewing an underpaid claim explains the broader process.
What Our Englewood Storm Case Shows
My Hurricane Ida claim in Englewood involved an office building damaged by the storm. That published case reflects our work with commercial property owners as well as homeowners. A commercial claim requires its own policy review because homeowners coverage explanations do not establish a business property’s coverage.
How Stronger Materials and Water Detectors May Affect Insurance Costs
During the interview, I discussed how stronger materials may reduce damage and how insurers may offer incentives for water detectors. A detector alerts an owner to a leak. Some systems also include automatic water shutoff, so the device’s functions deserve attention when comparing products.
Any device reimbursement or premium reduction depends on the insurer’s program. Your agent or insurer can confirm eligible equipment and required records before you purchase it.
Florida wind mitigation discounts involve a separate review of building features, including protection for windows and doors. The mitigation inspection requirements identify the documentation insurers use. Your agent can explain which credits apply. A premium discount reduces eligible insurance costs; it does not establish coverage for future storm damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace a damaged door before the insurer inspects it?
Urgent safety work may require action before an inspection. Your insurer should receive notice as soon as possible and explain its inspection requirements. Safe photos, contractor notes, and receipts can preserve evidence. Permanent replacement should follow that discussion when circumstances allow.
Must I use the insurer’s recommended contractor?
New Jersey owners are not required to use the insurer’s recommended contractor. A separate contractor’s itemized estimate can explain the proposed work. Contractor selection and insurance coverage remain separate questions.
What should I request if the insurer excludes part of the damage?
A written explanation should identify the policy wording behind the exclusion. New Jersey’s claim reporting and review information states that insurers must explain how uncovered damage falls outside the policy.
How can New York owners check a public adjuster’s license?
The New York Department of Financial Services provides access to its insurance license search. Owners can check an adjuster’s licensing information before signing an agreement.
Review Your Window and Door Storm Claim With Our Team
Window and door claims bring product information, damage findings, and repair estimates together. Those records help explain the work under review and any differences between estimates.
At Crestview Public Adjusters, we represent policyholders. We review policies, document damage, prepare estimates, and communicate with insurers. A free claim assessment can start with the records you already have.
