With storm season officially upon us, many will be going through the dreaded task of assessing storm damage and contacting insurance, but there are steps to take to ensure you get the most out of your claim.
When the storm hits, things can get hectic, but experts say that getting in contact or reaching out to your insurance company as soon as possible is key.
“There’s going to be a massive number of claims, [so] it’s important to file your claim or to notify your agent or company very early on,” David Sampson, the president and CEO of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, shared with NerdWallet.
However, other necessities also need to be addressed in the most dire situations.
According to Ware Wendell, who works with Texas Watch, a non-partisan citizen advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that insurance companies and other corporations are accountable, several steps should be taken after a storm damages your property.
Victims will want to ensure they have enough help covering necessities like housing, food, and clothing. Wendell shared with NBC 5 that some insurance policies will have dedicated funds for these needs.
“Check to see if you have something in your insurance policy called additional living expense coverage, or ALE, that can cover your expenses if you need to get a hotel or a motel so you have a roof over your head,” Wendell said.
For those who have damage to their home that needs emergency repairs, photographing damage and saving receipts is crucial to obtain, so your insurance company can reimburse you.
“Save the damage because that damage is evidence. You want to make sure that’s there on the property so that your insurance adjuster can see it,” Wendell said. “Don’t throw anything out until your insurance adjuster has seen it. Make sure that you document it with photos and videos as much as humanly possible.”
Any communication you have with your insurance company should also be saved so that when you get your bill or are filing your claim, you can reference discussions you’ve already had.
If an adjuster is being sent to your home to survey the damage, Wendell says you should do everything you can to be home while they are there.
While insurance can often be difficult to deal with, most states have informational departments set up to discuss questions that homeowners may have concerning their claims, insurance, or any other issues related to storm damage.