Insurance Issues
Maintaining adequate insurance coverage should be a cornerstone of any family's hurricane plan. The following information can help you prepare for - and recover from - the financial burdens associated with a storm.
Before a Storm Arrives
Check your homeowner's policy to make sure it contains flood and windstorm coverage.
Review coverage limits on your home and valuables to make sure you are adequately protected.
Determine whether your policy will pay replacement cost or actual cash value in the event of a loss.
Find out whether your policy will pay for "additional living expenses" to cover the cost of hotels and meals should your home become uninhabitable.
Conduct an inventory of all personal belongings. Take photos and, if possible, video showing your possessions - as well as your insurance documents. To help you keep accurate, up-to-date records, the Insurance Information Institute offers free home inventory software for download.
After a Storm has Passed
If your home or property has been damaged by a hurricane, report the damage to your insurance agent as soon as possible. The agent will submit a loss form, and an adjuster will be assigned to your claim. The adjuster should contact you as soon as possible and make arrangements to inspect the damage to your property. Your insurance company will issue a special reference number for your claim that you will need to refer to in all of your dealings with them.
Make any needed emergency repairs to your home as required by your policy. Proceed only if it is safe to do so. Keep all receipts and take photos of the damage, before and after repair, to submit with your claim.
Hire only licensed and reputable contractors for repair work.
Information about Adjusters
After a hurricane, hundreds of adjusters are needed to help settle claims. There are three types of adjusters:
Company adjusters - insurance company employees
Independent adjusters - independent adjusting firm employees
Public adjusters - independent third-party contractors who adjust claims for a percentage of the settlement
Regardless of what type of adjuster you use, make sure that the person is properly licensed. Ask to see identification. If you are still unsure, call the State of Florida Department of Financial Services (formerly the Department of Insurance) Consumer Services Offices at (954) 321-2900 for verification.
Be patient. Adjusters will attempt to settle hardship cases and those with the most serious damage first. Policy forms are quite different, and storm damage often is varied in a given area. Don?t assume that your settlement will be the same as your neighbor?s.
My Safe Florida Home
The My Safe Florida Home program is designed to help Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes against hurricanes - and reduce hurricane damage exposure in our state. Under this program, eligible homeowners may receive free wind inspections conducted by qualified hurricane mitigation inspectors. If your home is inspected and it is determined that you may be entitled to receive insurance discounts or credits, you will receive a personalized mitigation form to submit to your insurer. For more information, call 1-866-513-6734 or visit My Safe Florida Home online. |
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