Guarding Against Future Storm Damage
There’s no way
to stop Mother Nature from doing pretty much as she will, and that includes the
damage that can be inflicted on your home or business through wind or
thunderstorms. Of course that doesn’t
mean there aren’t steps you can take to safeguard your property when the
weather turns malevolent.
Document all of
your valuables such as furniture, electronics, either through a written list or
better yet, photographic documentation.
This documentation should be kept in a safe place away from your home in
case of disaster. In the unlikely event
that your home were to be completely destroyed, you want to have tangible proof
of your loss to present to your insurance agent.
Likewise, you
should also keep your insurance policy numbers and your provider’s phone number
in a secure location as well. In the
event of a disaster, contact your insurance provider immediately.
While a
standard homeowner's insurance policy covers damage from high winds and
tornadoes, it does not cover damage from flooding. A separate policy must be
purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program, and can only be
purchased if your community participates in the national program. However, a
standard mobile home policy can cover damage caused by floods. Check your
policy.
If damage does
occur, take steps to make sure that no further damage occurs, such as covering
the damaged area with a tarp. Most
policies will not cover subsequent damage.
Make sure you
understand the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost
coverage for your contents, and obtain the coverage that best suits your needs.
With actual cash value, you will receive the current value of an item when you
file a claim. In other words, you'll get only "used" prices for your
furniture, TV, etc. With replacement cost coverage, your claim amount will be
enough to purchase new items.
You should also
secure the contact information for a local, IICRC certified water restoration company. The ideal candidate
will be available 24/7/365, with a staff of trained professionals, state of the
art water restoration equipment, and offer a full range of service including
water extraction and drying, carpet cleaning and mold removal, and structural
repair and restoration.
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