What to do now
If the storm has just passed where you are: stay safe first, then document before you clean up. Doing things in the wrong order can cost you money on your claim — and in a few cases, cost more than that.
Local services
Companies islanders can call for storm-related repairs and claims — every one personally reviewed before being featured here.
ProBuilt Hawai'i Roofing & Rain Gutters
Long-running Kaua'i roofing specialist; re-roofing, repairs, and gutters, widely praised for storm-repair turnaround.
probuilthawaii.com →Premier Restoration Hawai'i
24/7 storm-damage restoration and reconstruction; absorbed longtime local firm Rescue Services / The Professionals Kaua'i.
premhi.com →Shelters & help
Where to find shelter, food, or a referral to help — routed to official, currently-maintained sources rather than a static list on this page.
Emergency shelters
- Hawai'i EMA — official Hurricane Lowell shelter list, updated per countydod.hawaii.gov/hiema/hurricane-lowell-updates →
- Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency — (808) 241-1800 · kema@kauai.govkauai.gov/KEMA →
- American Red Cross — shelter locatorredcross.org/find-a-shelter →
Missing persons / reunification
This site does not host its own missing-persons list — conflicting or unverified reports cause real harm during an active disaster. Use the official channel:
- American Red Cross — Safe and Well registrysafeandwell.communityos.org →
- Kaua'i Police Dept — non-emergency line, for actual missing-person reports(808) 241-1711 →
Document everything, before you touch anything
This is the single most important step for a fast claim. Before you clean up, toss anything, or make repairs beyond basic safety:
- Photograph and video every room and every damaged item, from multiple angles, in good light
- Don't throw anything away yet if you can avoid it — keep damaged items (or a representative sample, like a swatch of soaked carpet) until your adjuster has seen them or told you it's fine to dispose of them
- Write a room-by-room inventory: what was damaged, approximate age, and value if you can estimate it
- Keep every receipt from this point forward — including for water, ice, hotel stays, and temporary repairs — many policies reimburse these as "additional living expenses"
Toss what's too far gone — after you've documented it
Anything porous that's been thoroughly soaked is a mold risk within 24–48 hours and generally can't be saved: mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpet and padding, insulation, drywall that stayed wet. Once it's photographed, it's usually safer to get it out of the house than to wait.
Tarp and protect what's left
Cover a damaged roof or broken windows as soon as it's safe to do so. Insurers generally expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage ("mitigation") — and a tarped roof after the storm looks very different from an unprotected one two weeks later. Photograph the damage before you tarp it, and keep the receipt for materials.
File the claim
Contact your insurance company as soon as you reasonably can. Write down your claim number, the adjuster's name and contact info, and the date you filed. Ask directly whether your policy covers additional living expenses if you're displaced.
Know who's actually on your side
Not every "adjuster" who shows up is working for you. There are three kinds, and the difference matters:
| Type | Who pays them | Who they represent |
|---|---|---|
| Staff adjuster | Employed directly by your insurance company, salaried | The insurance company |
| Independent adjuster | A contractor hired by the insurance company, common during high-volume events like a hurricane | Still the insurance company — not you |
| Public adjuster | Hired and paid by you, typically a percentage of the claim payout | You — works exclusively on your behalf to document damage and negotiate the settlement |
Watch for post-storm scams
Door-to-door contractors and adjusters are common after a storm like this — some are legitimate, some are not. Verify any contractor's license before hiring, get more than one quote for major repairs, and be wary of anyone pressuring you to sign an "assignment of benefits" on the spot. The Local Services list above have already been vetted for you.
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