How To Make a Flood Claim After a Storm

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

We help you to Make a Flood Claim After a Storm. Just follow Our Tips.

If a storm damages your Bountiful, UT, home, you likely will not be able to afford the repairs yourself. Luckily, your flood insurance policy should help you pay for emergency restoration services. To ensure that your flood claim is approved, follow the below steps:

4 Steps for Filing an Insurance Claim

1. Call Your Insurer

First, you must tell your insurance provider about the flood in your home. You can easily find the insurer’s phone number online. You will also likely have to notify your provider about the loss in writing. Before you contact the insurer, be sure to have your policy number handy.

The insurance representative will ask you for this information over the phone. You will also need to provide contact information and your mortgage company, if applicable.

2. Prepare for the Adjuster and Other Visitors

The insurance company will send an adjuster to your home to examine the damage. Before he or she arrives, take videos and photos of the affected areas. Be sure it is safe to re-enter your home first. The images should show the height of the floodwater, the structural damage to the house, and any personal items that were harmed.For larger appliances and devices, such as computers, televisions and washers/dryers, take a picture of the serial numbers, makes and models.

After the flood, you will likely need to throw away some items immediately. In particular, perishable foods, pillows and clothes may have to be discarded. Document those things before tossing them in the trash. Keep in mind that you may receive visits from multiple adjusters after the storm. That is because different adjusters specialize in various types of damage.

If the weather disaster caused both water and wind damage, for instance, you may have one adjuster who handles your flood claim and another who handles the wind claim. The adjusters may also bring an engineer or other specialists to your home. These experts can help analyze the extent and cause of more complex damages.

3. Work With the Adjuster

Once the adjuster arrives, let him or her walk through your home. He or she will likely take additional photos and measurements for the insurance company. Get the adjuster’s contact information so you can ask him or her questions that you have.

The adjuster should also have your current contact information, particularly if you are temporarily staying in another home or a hotel during the restoration process. You may also want to ask the adjuster about receiving an advanced payment to help you get back on your feet more quickly.

4. Submit Your Claim

The adjuster should additionally help you send in your insurance claim. The claim should include an estimate of your loss that is based on the videos and photos you took after the storm. Talk to your agent about the specific details of your policy. This way, there will not be any surprises during the claims process. Be sure to also understand and meet any deadlines for submitting the required paperwork.

If a storm damages your home, you should quickly make a flood claim with your insurance provider. By working with your adjuster and a restoration company, you can start the recovery process.