Philadelphia’s identity is built on the rowhome — a housing form that shapes nearly every property claim filed in the city, for better and for worse. GB Claims LLC is a licensed public adjusting firm representing Philadelphia homeowners, landlords, and business owners on fire, water, storm, and flood claims across neighborhoods from Manayunk and East Falls to South Philly and Fishtown, with no upfront fee on public adjusting claims.
Local Risk Profile and Building Stock in Philadelphia
Rowhomes make up an estimated 60-70% of Philadelphia’s total housing stock, and roughly 75% of those rowhomes are more than 50 years old (Hidden City Philadelphia, WHYY). That shared-wall construction creates a claims dynamic that’s different from almost anywhere else: fire and smoke damage routinely spreads between attached units, and many older rowhomes were built before modern fire-blocking and party-wall standards existed, meaning a single-unit fire can quickly become a multi-property loss involving several policyholders and insurers at once.
Philadelphia’s flood risk centers on the Schuylkill River and a set of urban creeks that drain the city’s neighborhoods. The benchmark modern event is Hurricane Ida in September 2021, when the Schuylkill crested at 16.35 feet — a near-record level, with the prior record standing at 17 feet since 1869 — well above the 15.5-foot threshold for “major flood stage.” The Vine Street Expressway (I-676) flooded and closed, the Manayunk neighborhood was hit hardest of any area in the city, and the Delaware River rose about 1.5 feet above its own flood stage at the same time. Beyond the Schuylkill, Cobbs Creek, Wissahickon Creek, Frankford Creek, and Pennypack Creek all overflowed during Ida, contributing to more than $40 million in flash flood damage in Philadelphia County alone (Penn Today, NOAA Storm Events Database).
Research following Ida found that what used to be classified as a 50-year flood event on the Schuylkill is now happening roughly every 3 years under current rainfall patterns — a significant shift that raises the practical odds of another major flood claim for property owners near the river and its tributary creeks (Penn Today). For rowhome owners citywide, that combination of an aging, attached housing stock and an increasingly active flood and storm pattern means claims often involve more than one type of damage at once — for example, wind-driven roof damage compounding pre-existing deferred maintenance in a 75-plus-year-old structure.
Types of Losses We Handle in Philadelphia
- Fire and smoke damage: Rowhome fires and resulting smoke, soot, and water damage that frequently spreads to adjoining units.
- Flooding along the Schuylkill and city creeks: Claims tied to the Schuylkill River, Wissahickon Creek, Cobbs Creek, Frankford Creek, and Pennypack Creek, especially in Manayunk and other low-lying neighborhoods.
- Storm and wind damage: Roof, parapet, and facade damage on older rowhomes and commercial buildings.
- Water and pipe failures: Aging plumbing failures common in rowhomes over 50 years old.
- Theft and burglary: Documentation and valuation for residential and commercial break-ins.
- Business interruption: Lost income claims for Philadelphia’s dense small business corridors after a covered property loss forces a closure.
How the Public Adjusting Claim Process Works
GB Claims LLC begins with a free, no-obligation inspection of the damage to your Philadelphia property. If you retain us, we manage your claim from start to finish: documenting the loss thoroughly, including any damage that has spread from or to adjoining rowhome units; preparing a detailed itemized estimate; reviewing your policy for coverage often missed on older buildings, such as ordinance-or-law coverage for code-required upgrades; and negotiating directly with the insurance company’s adjuster so you don’t have to navigate that process alone. There is no upfront fee on public adjusting claims — we’re paid only as a percentage of your settlement.
Licensed and Local to the Region
GB Claims LLC is a licensed public adjusting firm authorized to handle property claims in Pennsylvania, in addition to New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Our office is located at 71 Lafayette Ave, Suite 203, Suffern, New York, and we regularly travel to Philadelphia for inspections and documentation. Consumers can verify license status or file a complaint through the Pennsylvania Insurance Department’s Consumer Help Center or its public adjuster consumer information page, or by calling 1-877-881-6388.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Philadelphia rowhome fires often affect more than one property?
Because most Philadelphia rowhomes share party walls and were built before modern fire-blocking codes existed, fire and smoke can spread between attached units quickly, which is why roughly 75% of the city’s rowhome stock — much of it over 50 years old — presents unique documentation challenges (Hidden City Philadelphia).
How much did the Schuylkill River flood during Hurricane Ida?
The Schuylkill crested at 16.35 feet during Ida in September 2021, nearly breaking the 1869 record of 17 feet and well above the 15.5-foot major flood stage threshold (Penn Today).
Is my Manayunk property at higher flood risk than other parts of the city?
Manayunk, which sits along the Schuylkill River, was identified as the hardest-hit neighborhood in the city during Hurricane Ida and remains one of Philadelphia’s most flood-exposed areas.
Do you handle claims for Philadelphia small businesses, not just homeowners?
Yes. We document lost income and property damage claims for Philadelphia’s retail, restaurant, and professional service businesses following covered losses.
If your Philadelphia rowhome or business has suffered fire, flood, or storm damage, call GB Claims LLC for a free claim review at 845-456-6699 — no upfront fee, no obligation.