Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit several states hard with an unforgiving barrage of tornadoes, record-breaking rainfall and jarring wind speeds. In Florida—which bore the brunt of Milton’s wrath just weeks after absorbing Hurricane Helene’s punch—the recovery is underway. But the task is daunting, according to W&C Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney.

Hurricane Recovery Efforts in Florida

The recovery effort following hurricanes Milton and Helene in Florida is slowly underway, and roofing contractors on their way in to help need to be prepared, said W&C Legal Insights expert Trent Cotney. Gas shortages, downed trees and power lines are commonplace during a state of emergency, and he cautioned regulatory enforcement won’t take a step back.

Contractors/subcontractors in the state and those rolling in need to be prepared for downed trees, blocked roadways, gas shortages, and Florida’s strong regulations on storm response, he said.

“This is a state of emergency, so any work that they’re doing under the new law passed in July, they have to provide homeowners with a 10-day right of cancellation,” Cotney said in a brief videochat with W&C Group Publisher Jill Bloom.

Authorities are also monitoring for price gauging and safety violations, including some beyond the norm.

“If I’m an employer I’m doing some toolbox talks early in the morning on jobsite safety during storm conditions because it is a mess out here,” Cotney said.

Watch the full conversation here.