Hurricane Ida made landfall yesterday, exactly sixteen years to the day that Hurricane Katrina landed. Back then, I had just completed a trial in a small Parish next door to New Orleans. Fortunately, my flight home took off safely on Friday afternoon before Katrina hit the following Monday, August 29, 2005. I was spared the devastation suffered by so many along the Gulf Coast. But so many that I befriended lost so much.

Over the succeeding years, I’ve had many opportunities to revisit New Orleans and the surrounding area. I witnessed the recovery, reclamation and rebuilding of that vital community. It was slow and it was hard but it happened.

Beyond the personal toll exacted by Hurricane Ida, the property and business losses are projected to be among the greatest caused by a natural disaster. As the recovery efforts begin in earnest, this checklist is offered to assist those who are planning to submit an insurance claim for the property or business interruption loss suffered.

As Ida continues to ruble northward, the heartache is real and will continue. We’ve been down this road. It’s long, winding and exhausting. But we’ve made it through before and we will do so again.