Free 1-Hour Webinar on Thursday, July 30th, 2026 at 10:00am Pacific Time
Introduction
Natural disasters don’t just damage buildings; they trigger cascading failures, from shifting terrain to contaminated water, that fundamentally alter the built environment. In this high-stakes arena, a poor evaluation is more than an error; it is a financial and legal catastrophe.
Since any "large loss" claim is a candidate for litigation, every investigation must be treated as forensic. To stand up in court under Federal Rule of Evidence 702, your work must be truly scientific. This means it must be repeatable: different experts using the same data and methods should reach a consistent conclusion.
We all know the industry often falls short of this standard. However, you can navigate the chaos of a disaster claim by utilizing rigorous, professional structures.
This presentation is designed for owners, insurers, and attorneys. We will explore current industry trends, establish a framework for reliable investigation, and analyze case studies, from wildfire-impacted homes to storm-damaged high-rises, to demonstrate how expert analysis leads to successful resolutions.
Program Outline
Introduction
Industry Trends in Natural Disaster Claims
Natural Disasters
Inspection, Testing, and Analysis
Analyzing Costs to Repair
Conclusion
Learning Objectives
Apply a forensic framework to evaluate building damage after a natural disaster systematically.
Distinguish between wind-driven rain and ground-up flood damage using site-specific forensic data.
Identify the appropriate technical standards to distinguish between pre-existing maintenance issues and actual disaster-caused failures.
Implement the "100% Rule" to audit repair scopes, ensuring cost estimates are accurate and avoid "double-dipping."
Strategize the best medium for presenting complex forensic findings so they are easily understood by non-technical decision-makers.
Review case studies and real-world examples of disaster claims that were successfully resolved through expert evaluation.
Our Panel
Pete Fowler
Chief Quality Officer
Pete Fowler Construction
Brandon Wright
Partner
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
Continuing Education
This webinar is applying for continuing education credit for both attorneys and insurance professionals in the following states: Florida, Nevada, California, and Texas.
NOTE: Many states acknowledge reciprocal credit for courses certified through the Texas Department of Insurance. Be sure to review the guidelines specific to your state, and verify the process for obtaining credit for a course approved with the state of Texas.
The CEU Institutes will be the continuing education provider for our webinars in 2026. Any questions regarding continuing education credit can be directed toward their compliance team by emailing rosters@ceuinstitute.net
This provider does not accept poll responses submitted via the chat function. All three of polling question answers must show on the specific poll report generated by Zoom Webinar to count for credit.
It can take up to 30 days for credit processing and certificate distribution.