Hurricane Ida has proven to be one of the most disastrous hurricanes in the past few years. The Consumer Federation of America pointed out that the National Flood Insurance Program and private insurers will pay for the damages. More specifically, the damage will cost insurers an estimated $31 billion.
If your home was one of the many to fall victim to the hurricane, you should be filing a claim with your homeowners insurance. As long as you have insurance coverage, you won’t have to cover the expenses yourself. However, no private insurance company has a policy for flood damage, as that is something that the NFIP covers.
Tips for Filing a Claim from Hurricane Ida
Find Out the Type of Insurance Adjuster You’ll Be Getting
When you call your insurance provider, they send an adjuster to your home quickly. Before they send someone, be sure to ask your provider a few questions about them. More specifically, you should ask if the adjuster they’re sending is a private contractor or an employee.
In most times of crisis, it’s not uncommon for insurance companies to hire adjusters. If they say they’re sending an independent adjuster, you should ask the carrier if the independent contractor has the authority to be working on their behalf. Lastly, you should ask your insurance company for the name of the in-house adjuster.
Keep Records During the Process
The first thing that you should do is start gathering information and documentation that you could use to strengthen your case. Take pictures and videos of your house to document the damage the hurricane caused. If you do not have prior pictures to compare them to, you should ask your family members or neighbors if they have some.
You should also start listing the series of events since the time you started talking to the insurance provider. It’s important to keep a sequence of events and document important information in order to hold your insurer accountable.
You Can Hire You Own Contractor
If you can hire a local contractor to get an estimate on the repairs that could help the claims process with your adjuster. You’ll want to know how much compensation you’ll get for the damages.
While most insurance companies will send out their own contractors, you are under no obligation to use them. An independent contractor you hire may be able to give you a more unbiased look at the entire situation and cost.
Summing Up
Even if you didn’t suffer any damage from Hurricane Ida, it’s good to be prepared and know what to do if you ever find yourself in this situation. If you live in a high risk hurricane or flood area talk with your insurance provider to make sure you have adequate coverage.
Sources
https://abc7ny.com/homeowners-insurance-ida-hurricane-flood-damage/10997156/