Models can determine hurricane wind and water damage, panel told

When Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma hit in 2005, all that was left of homes along the Gulf Coast for miles were slabs of concrete. For many homeowners, that was just the beginning of the problem. Insurance claims on wind and water damage have caused headaches for people trying to rebuild their homes and communities. Private insurers cover wind damage, and a federal program, the National Flood Insurance Program, covers water damage. With only slabs to go on, there was no way to determine what was blown away and what was washed away. Homeowners sued insurance companies for wind damage that could have been caused by flooding.