Tupelo, Mississippi Tornado Insurance Dispute Lawyers
Experienced representation when tornadoes cause property damage to homes and businesses
When tornadoes happen on film or TV, you can go back to your life when the show is over. In the real world, tornadoes are devastating natural disasters that can destroy homes and commercial property in a minute. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we move quickly to help policyholders obtain the temporary advances they need to secure their property, evaluate the damage, and move to a temporary home or a business site. We then work to obtain all the funds policyholders deserve and work to counter the insurance company's efforts to deny or limit your insurance claim.
We strive to settle your claims, but we’re always ready to try your claim in a Lee County Courthouse if your insurance company doesn’t make a fair offer. Our Tupelo insurance dispute lawyers have obtained more than $250 million in insurance proceeds for our clients. In one tornado case, we obtained more than $800,000 for our client after the insurance company’s initial denial of our client’s claim.
Our three founders are recognized by “Best Lawyers in America,” “Super Lawyers,” “Rising Stars,” and rated as AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell.
How can we help?
- How often do tornadoes happen in Mississippi?
- What are the categories of tornadoes?
- How dangerous are tornadoes?
- How do your insurance dispute lawyers help insurance policyholders obtain all the payments they deserve?
- What are the common types of tornado insurance disputes?
- Do you have a Tupelo, MS tornado insurance lawyer near me?
How often do tornadoes happen in Mississippi?
According to the Clarion Ledger, there have been 100 tornadoes in Mississippi in 2025 (through November 16, 2025). In 2024, there were 94 Mississippi tornadoes, and in 2023, there were 77 Mississippi tornadoes.
The 2025 tornadoes have caused more than $19,401,000 in property damage and $2,210,000 in crop damage.
What are the categories of tornadoes?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration categorizes tornadoes based on The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale). The classifications are based on damage and estimated wind speeds.
- EF0 tornado. Winds of 65-85 mph. Mild damage. Property damage includes damage to chimneys, branches of trees, and signboards.
- EF1 tornado. Winds of 86-110 mph. Moderate damage. Property damage includes cars being blown off streets, mobile homes being pushed off their foundations, and damage to roofs.
- EF2 tornado. Winds of 111-135 mph. Extensive damage. Property damage includes wind-blown roofs, cars, mobile homes, trees, and other flying objects.
- EF3 tornado. Winds of 136-165 mph. Severe damage. These tornadoes damage roofs and walls, trees, cars, and even trains.
- EF4 tornado. Winds of 166-200 mph. Devastating damage. The damage blows vehicles a long distance and levels well-constructed homes and building structures.
- EF5 tornado. Winds over 200 mph. Incredible damage. Frame houses may be leveled off their foundations; vehicles may fly through the air for more than 100 meters; trees may have their bark blown off, and other incredible levels of damage.
How dangerous are tornadoes?
Tornadoes can destroy residential homes, apartment complexes, condominiums, churches, restaurants, commercial property, agricultural sites, and manufacturing sites. For many tornado victims, it’s more logical to rebuild than repair.
Our Tupelo, MS tornado insurance lawyers work with building professionals who will thoroughly review the visible and hidden damage to your property, including:
- The foundation of your building structures
- Your home or business’s exterior – including the roof, chimney, siding, and shingles
- The interior walls, floors, carpets, windows, and screens
- Plumbing, electricity, HVAC, and telecommunications
- Porches, driveways, landscaping, sheds, pools, and the rest of your property
We also work with experts who review the damage to your landscaping, sheds, and the exterior of your home or business. Additionally, we can enlist professionals to review the damage to the contents of your home (personal property) or building (business personal property), including appliances, furniture, equipment, inventory, and personal property.
Do your insurance dispute lawyers help insurance policyholders obtain all the payments they deserve?
Our Tupelo insurance dispute lawyers work with a network of professionals, including inspectors, architects, engineers, contractors, adjusters, appraisers, and other professionals. These professionals help us determine all your damage. These damages include the cost to repair or rebuild your home/commercial property, your contents, and all other personal property. We also seek business interruption damages for commercial property owners who have proper insurance coverage. Our lawyers can also seek coverage for crop damage. However, crop losses are usually addressed through separate crop insurance coverage, depending on the producer’s policy/program.
We obtain formal estimates from these professionals that explain in detail the parts and labor necessary to restore your property to its pre-tornado condition, and the timeline for repairing or rebuilding your property.
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we seek compensation for all your damage, according to the specific terms of your homeowner’s or commercial property insurance policy. These policies generally cover tornado and wind damage.
Our Tupelo tornado insurance attorneys have helped many natural disaster victims like you obtain the following insurance payments and benefits:
Temporary advances
The most common question after a tornado isn’t whether you will have to relocate, it’s how long you’ll have to relocate. Even mild tornadoes require time to conduct inspections for visible and hidden damage.
Our Tupelo tornado insurance dispute lawyers help clients obtain the temporary funds they need to inspect their property, move to a temporary location (such as a hotel or a rental property) if your property is not habitable, and purchase necessities (such as food, clothing, cooking equipment, tools, and other items). While loss of use and additional living expense typically reimburses additional living costs beyond normal expenses, it is subject to policy limits. Businesses will need temporary advances to continue their business and notify customers.
What should I do immediately after a tornado strikes in Tupelo?
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we’ve helped numerous natural disaster victims understand their immediate needs and requirements. We can explain which local Tupelo and Lee County officials can help you. Our team can assist as you work to safely turn off (and turn on) your utilities and learn what parts of your property you need to secure. We can also explain your duty under the insurance policy to mitigate further damages.
Our insurance dispute lawyers can also discuss what photographs and videos of the damage you should take, if it is safe to do so.
What are the common types of tornado insurance disputes?
Our Tupelo, Mississippi, attorneys handle the full range of disputes that occur when policyholders make claims after natural disasters happen. Common tornado insurance disputes include:
- Showing that your home or commercial property insurance covers tornado damage. Most homeowner’s and commercial property insurance policies cover tornadoes, unless there’s a specific exclusion. These policies don’t normally cover any flood damage.
- Determining what deductibles apply
- Determining if any policy exclusions apply to your claim
- Ensuring that the cost to rebuild or repair represents the true cost. Many insurance companies will try to lower your claim by arguing that:
- You don’t need to rebuild; repairs are adequate. We work with experts who examine everything that was damaged, how each damaged item affects other damaged items, and any hidden damage.
- The value of your damage should reflect the true cost to repair, rebuild, or replace your property. We routinely argue (if your policy includes replacement cost coverage) that the insurance company must pay for the actual cost to repair or rebuild your property. The actual repair or rebuilding cost is often more than the fair market value.
- Obtaining all your business interruption policy coverage. This insurance amount normally includes the cost to move your business, notify clients and vendors, pay the bills on your damaged property (such as an outstanding mortgage), pay your workers, pay the marketing costs, the profits your business loses, additional telecommunication expenses, and many other business costs, depending on the policy terms and limits.
- Our lawyers can review with the contractors and builders how much time they need to complete their work.
- Other insurance dispute issues we regularly review include your rights once repairs begin, tax-related concerns such as depreciation, and other issues that often depend on the unique characteristics of your home or business.
Do you have a Tupelo, MS tornado insurance lawyer near me?
Yes. We meet tornado victims who have insurance claims at our Tupelo, Mississippi, office located at 600 W. Main St., Suite 301. We also review your claim by phone and through online video platforms. Our lawyers also work with contractors who personally visit and inspect the damage to your home or business. If necessary, we can review the damage in person, too.
We’re here to answer your questions and guide you step-by-step through the claims process.
Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We also have offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Contact our Tupelo, Mississippi, tornado insurance lawyers today
Time is critical when natural disasters strike. Decisions have to be made quickly about how to secure your property, obtain repair and rebuild estimates, and obtain funds to move while the work is being done. You need experienced insurance dispute lawyers who know how to protect and enforce your right to full insurance benefits. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we’re ready to help you from day one. We can fight to obtain all the funds you bargained for when you paid your premiums. Call us today or fill out our contact form for a consultation.