The expert is wrong.
what's important is that it be declared a federal disaster area. this is from FEMA
Louisiana Hurricane Ida (DR-4611-LA)
Incident Period: August 26, 2021 - September 3, 2021
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 29, 2021
see form 4864 for your options for reporting your loss.
use section A if this is personal property.
and here's a thread from the IRS
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-tax-relief-for-victims-of-hurricane-ida-in-louisiana
see the section on casualty losses.
*
personal casualty losses are no longer deductible unless they're in a federally declared disaster area.
