Insurance - Storm Tips

Here are some important insurance tips to protect your property from flooding, ice storms and other weather-related hazards. You should be familiar with these steps to minimize property damage and financial hardship caused by storms.

Reminders & Tips: 

1. Make a list of all valuables, furniture, electronics, etc., and photograph or videotape your possessions. Keep copies of the list, photographs and videotape in a safe place outside your home. If your home is damaged or destroyed in a natural disaster, it may be difficult for you to tell your insurance agent what you lost without proof.
2. Keep your insurance policy numbers and your agent's phone number in a safe place as well.
3. If disaster strikes, contact your agent or insurance company immediately. You should have their contact information saved in your phone.
4. While a standard homeowner's insurance policy covers damage from high winds and tornadoes, it does not cover damage from flooding.
5. Protect your property from further damage. For example, if your roof is damaged, cover it with a tarp to prevent water damage from subsequent rain. Most policies will not cover such damage.
6. 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.