Do Not Get Flooded with Bad Insurance Decisions

With spring floods leading to death and destruction in parts of the southeast and Ohio Valley regions of the country, it is wise for consumers to make sure they have insurance coverage in the event their property is damaged or destroyed.

It is important for consumers who have a home, apartment, condo or business to remember that the majority of homeowners’ condo and renter’s insurance policies do not provide coverage for flood damage.

Consumers are reminded that they can contact their private insurer regarding flood damage in the event they have purchased their National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy through them in order to file a claim.

In the event one’s home has been damaged by flooding and they do not have a flood insurance policy through the NFIP, they may be eligible for disaster help from FEMA.

In order to file a claim, be sure to compile all relevant policy numbers to begin. You should then contact your agent or insurance company and mention that your damages are flood specific and you have to file a NFIP claim so the claim is processed in the appropriate manner.

The next step is to seek an appropriate time frame for having an adjuster pay a visit to your residence so that you are able to plan accordingly. In the event you have been displaced to a shelter and it is hard to reach you, be sure to provide the name and contact information for a designated relative or point-of-contact that can get in touch with you.

Another important item is to be sure and take pictures and/or videotape the damage so that the details are recorded and an assessment can be made of the damage by the adjuster.

It is also important to make contact with creditors in the event bills have been lost and you are not able to make the payments.

Finally, be sure to inventory your residence for damaged or lost items prior to the adjuster arriving. The idea here is to speed up your claims process.

It is possible to file two or more claims at the same time, including an NFIP claim, so be sure to note that. By doing this, the insurer can assign adjusters to handle the necessary claims.

Losing one’s property or having it seriously damaged is never easy to deal with, but being organized to file a claim immediately should make things go a little more smoothly.