What to do in case of Hurricane Landfall

Do you know the proper steps to take in order to protect your investment in your home and make the insurance claim process easier on you? 

Most people do not, especially if they have never had to deal with the insurance company for damages resulting from a hurricane.

There are two very important steps you need to take before a hurricane hits in order to make the process of filing and closing a claim move more smoothly. 

·  Make sure all your insurance policy information is together. 

·  Take photographs of the interior and exterior of your home, including all of your personal items. These can be placed on a disc, hard drive, or prints. These photos will be crucial to the claims process. They will show the insurance company adjuster or independent adjuster the condition of your home inside and out along with the condition of all your personal items prior to the storm. 

The policy information and the photos should be placed together and put in a safe, easily accessible place. 

If the need to evacuate arises, be sure to bring your policy information and the photos of your home and personal items with you. These are probably some of the most important items to bring with you as you evacuate. 

·  Unplug all electrical items. This will protect your electronic items from power surges. 

·  Secure your home and bring all items from the outside to the inside if possible. 

·  Take any required medications and prescriptions with you along with your medical records if necessary.

·  If you have pets, bring them with you. You do not want to be the one that loses their pets because you did not have a place for them or thought they would be okay. 

·  Stock up on non-perishable foods, water and fill your vehicles with gas.

·  You should have enough cash to buy water, food and gas during the power loss, if one occurs, when returning to your home. It can sometimes take several weeks for power to be restored.

·  Have a large supply of batteries for your electronic items.  Charge your cell phone batteries fully and, if possible, keep an extra charged battery just in case.

·  Have an ample supply of first aid supplies handy including (but not limited to) bandages, antiseptic ointment and wipes, gauze pads, etc. 

If your home sustains damages from the storm, take pictures of the damages before you do any necessary temporary repairs. 

According to the conditions of your insurance policy, you are responsible for mitigating your damages. The term mitigate means “lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of”. This section of the policy would refer to the damages your home sustains. You, as the homeowner, are responsible to do everything you can to keep the extent of further damages to a minimum.

If repairs are necessary, make sure you receive and save all receipts pertaining to any repairs and NEVER pay cash to a contractor if it is at all preventable. If you pay cash and do not receive an acceptable receipt or invoice for the repairs, there is a possibility the insurance company might not reimburse you for these expenses. 

An example of an unacceptable receipt would be a hand-written receipt from a book you can buy at any office supply store. The receipt or invoice should have the company information printed on it along with any state required license numbers and date of payment. 

Paying by check or credit card and having a valid receipt or invoice will provide a paper trail for the insurance company to follow if necessary.

Make sure the contractor is licensed and insured in the state of Florida. It is a felony for a contractor to do business in the state of Florida if they are not properly licensed and insured for the work they will be performing. 

If you are unable to live in your home after the hurricane because of the extent of the damages sustained, be sure to save all receipts for food, lodging, additional utilities, etc. as these costs may be reimbursable under your policy. 

Call your insurance company as soon as possible after the storm. After a hurricane, the insurance companies are bombarded with calls. Even if you feel the damages are insignificant or under your deductible, it is still worth contacting the insurance company. This is one of your Conditions after a loss under your policy. Please do not wait to file this claim. As long as you have filed a claim within a reasonable amount of time after a loss, you will have performed one of the many conditions required in your policy. 

When the insurance company sends their adjuster to your home, do not give them any original receipts, invoices or pictures. Give them a copy of the documents they request.

If you need help with your loss or you do not know what steps to take during a loss, please contact The People’s Adjuster, to help you during your time of need.

Don’t be left caught in the dark. Know what you must do in order to prevent your claim handling experience from becoming a nightmare. We help you stay in control.