5 Property Damage Tips To Consider When Facing Natural Disasters

Often when natural disasters such as hurricanes strike, property owners have a difficult time getting back to normal due to lack of planning.

Below are a few tips to consider before and after a natural disaster, to help manage the chaos and get back to normal as soon as possible.

1. Know your surroundings: Learn the elevation level of your property so that you can determine how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted. Know your community’s evacuation route so that you know where to go in case emergency strikes.
2. Does Your Insurance Cover the Damage? After any disaster it is difficult to figure out this information and often impossible due to lack of communication channels. Be prepared, when purchasing a policy be sure you understand what your insurance covers in the event of a natural disaster.
3. Photograph and Document Damage: Photos take the guess work out of assessment after disaster strikes. If you do not already have a home inventory, create one as soon as possible. Document each room with photos of your property, detailed descriptions, and purchase receipts when possible to ensure a record for claims processing after the disaster.
4. Conduct Emergency Repairs: Your property policy often calls for reasonable repair to damaged property. Do only what’s necessary to prevent further damage after a storm. Don’t make permanent repairs until a public insurance adjuster reviews the damage to assess proper cost.
5. Call a Public Insurance Adjuster ASAP: Insurance companies sometimes work on a first-come, first-served basis; it’s in your best interest to call a public insurance adjuster to ensure you are back to normal as quickly as possible. Public insurance adjusters file the claim for you, handle the complexity of dealing with the insurance company, they will come to your property, assess the damage, and determine a fair and equitable payout.

Did you suffer property damage from the recent hurricane? Contact United today for immediate help! 1-866-369-6033 (LOSS). We represent the Policyholder, NOT the Insurance Company!