Guidelines for Determination of Wind versus Water Causation of Hurricane Damage

In the wake of a hurricane event, the attribution of damage causation to "wind" or to "flooding and storm surge" is essential to the process of cost-recovery and the determination of insurance applicability. In such a catastrophic event, the damage left in the aftermath is often seen as chaotic and inseparable into these two categories. Knowledge of the storm dynamics and careful observations on the ground, however, can provide clues leading to an equitable attribution. In contrast to complete forensic analysis, for which there is usually insufficient time, a concentration on applied forces, observed damage, and debris geometry is often sufficient to arrive at a segregation of damage between the two or a determination of simultaneous action. Drawn from experience in Louisiana following Katrina, this paper seeks to set forth a series of guidelines for the conduct of such an examination and contains descriptions of commonly-encountered patterns of damage with the attributions suggested by each.