Watson Millican & Company’s technical experts assisted the insurance carrier’s claim adjuster with assessment of damage and monetary loss to electrical power plants, electrical substations, high voltage transmission lines and natural gas piping system in the greater New Orleans area caused by flooding during Hurricane Katrina.
The Issue
Storm surge with the landfall of Hurricane Katrina caused unprecedented flooding in the greater New Orleans area and locations south of New Orleans to the coast of Louisiana. We worked closely with the adjuster, along with the electric utility company and natural gas utility company which suffered the losses, to inspect and assess damage to their electrical generation and distribution system and the natural gas piping distribution system impacted by submersion in six to twenty feet of brackish floodwater depending on location.
Watson Millican & Company Scope
Watson Millican experts were on the ground in New Orleans with the claims adjuster shortly after public access was provided to the flood impacted areas. We visited ~35 electrical substations and two fossil fired electrical power plants, identified peak flood water levels, inspected affected equipment, documented and photographed damage, and determined equipment needing replacement versus refurbishment. Likewise, visited and assessed the natural gas piping above ground distribution systems and portions of the excavated underground piping impacted by submersion in the brackish waters. Developed detailed cost estimates and technical basis for equipment replacement and refurbishment for all inspected assets, presented to claims adjuster and attended multiple claims review sessions with utility companies to bring claim to a satisfactory close.
Project Scope:
Impact: Property damage and monetary loss for insurance claim
Services: Insurance Claim
Sectors: Power Generation and Distribution; Natural Gas Distribution