Why You Need to Apply for Homeowners Insurance ASAP After a Natural Disaster
After a natural disaster, especially one that causes significant damage to your property and community, the prospect of seeking homeowners insurance can seem overwhelming.
However, once you and your family are safe, you will want to start working with your insurance company as quickly as possible to avoid delays in the approval, processing and payment of your claim, as well as the restoration of your property. (Especially if another storm is on the way.)
Here’s how to start the process.
Protect your home from additional damage
If you weather the storm at home or are able to return quickly (and safely), prevent further serious damage to your property by, for example, boarding up broken windows or covering exposed parts of the roof with a tarp. Your homeowners insurance policy likely requires you to take “reasonable” steps to limit additional losses in order to be eligible for coverage.
Be sure to keep receipts for any temporary or emergency repairs made for reimbursement, which should also cover materials used to prevent further damage (but cannot apply to items purchased before the storm). Because this will be factored into the final settlement, the Insurance Information Institute (III) cautions against paying large sums to contractors for major repairs immediately after a disaster, before your insurer has assessed the damage.
Call your insurance company immediately
Contact your agent or property insurance company as soon as possible—ideally within the first few days after the accident. Although you can file your claim online, the best way to start is by calling. You can start this process from anywhere (for example, if you have evacuated) if you know your home has suffered serious damage. You will need to provide your insurer with some details initially, but they will also carry out a formal check later. If possible, have your policy number handy when you call.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) detailed guide to post-disaster claims, when you call you should discuss the following:
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How long do you have to file a claim?
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What does your policy cover?
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What is your deductible
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Schedule a meeting with the claims adjuster
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Will your policy cover additional living expenses such as food or lodging?
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Do I need to provide an estimate for repairs?
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How long will it take to process a claim?
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What to expect next
You should also write down the names and phone numbers of everyone you talk to, as well as any claim or reference numbers you receive.
Document everything
Whenever you deal with insurance of any kind, documentation is key:
Keep all receipts for disaster-related expenses, including hotel and restaurant bills if you are unable to live in your home due to damage and emergency repairs.
Review an inventory of your personal property and document any damaged or destroyed items in writing and visually. If you don’t have inventory, look at the photos you took and look for receipts in your email to create the best look possible.
Carefully document the structural damage to your property and list everything that needs to be provided to the claims adjuster. You may have to undergo professional inspections, which are paid for by most insurance companies, as well as proposals from licensed contractors to support your claim.
Documenting the damage as quickly and thoroughly as possible and contacting your insurance company as soon as possible is even more important when your home is at risk of damage from back-to-back hurricanes. Insurers may deny your claim and coverage if they cannot determine the cause of a specific loss.