The state is urging people to begin tallying damage costs as they begin cleaning up from flooding this week. Tuesday, Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster in 23 counties.
The Better Business Bureau is urging people to start the process carefully.
First, the organization says homeowners with insurance should work with their carrier to determine what their policy covers.
"Our recommendation is the first contact a consumer needs to make in this situation is a phone call to your insurance company," says BBB's Monica Horton.
In addition to finding out what their policy covers, Horton says people will also need to understand the claims process. She says insurance carriers can also connect people with reputable contractors.
Horton says people looking for a restoration company will benefit from choosing one with experience and a license in flood damage.
"We want you to look at the history and look at the track record of a company prior to contacting them," she says. "Mold remediation is an area that requires some licensing and certification, so make sure you do business with someone who has experience cleaning up mold."
People can visit bbb.org to see a company's history. Resources for flooding are available at https://www.bbb.org/all/natural-disasters/flood .
Horton says some contractors will also start going door-to-door after a disaster.
"You can certainly hear what they have to say and take down their business information, but don't make a purchasing decision when someone is standing on your doorstep," she says.
Horton urges people to get at least three bids and understand their contract before signing.
"Don't completely pay for a job until you're satisfied with it," she says. "A lot of the complaints we hear at the BBB often stem from contractors being paid in advance and then not showing back up to complete the work," she says.
Flood damage will also force some people from their home while the property is being cleared and repaired. Horton says that will also put people at risk when choosing a rental.
"Fraudsters will simply copy a photo in a description of a property. They will post it online as a rental," she says. "They often have excuses and stories as to why they can't meet you in person."
She says rental scams take several forms, and people can protect themselves by avoiding those who provide too little information or pressure someone to act immediately.
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