FLOOD CLAIMS
Flood insurance -separate from homeowner's insurance- is specific to flood damage and purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program. Find your policy or ask you agent for a copy to review your coverage.
WHAT TO DO WHEN FLOOD OCCURS
#1 - DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT!
Before you begin cleaning up, take pictures and videos of your losses and damages. Do NOT throw everything away.
#2 - Consider hiring a restoration company.
You want to mitigate any further damage to your home.
Do NOT sign any work authorization forms without an agreement from the insurance company or their representative adjuster to approve the charges. A public adjuster can help guide you through this process. #3 below >
Ever hear of a Public Insurance Adjuster?
Public insurance adjusters are licensed insurance professionals experienced in adjusting property loss and hired by the policyholder - that's you - to assist in preparing, investigating, filing, adjusting, and negotiating insurance claims to make you whole again. No out-of-pocket expense to you.
Conversely, insurance adjusters and independent adjusters work for the insurance company and try to save the insurance company as much money as possible.
Public adjusters on average increase your claim by 747%
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#3 - Extensive inspection.
A Smart Claims Public Adjuster will determine the extent of the damages using moisture detectors and infrared cameras to determine the exact location of the water. If your insurance company adjuster does not follow this protocol, the outcome of the settlement in dollars will be greatly impacted and the complete restoration and dry out process of the insured property could be in jeopardy.
#4 - Tricky Policy Language.
We are seeing some insurance companies trying to shift the cost to the policyholder even though the policy covers the peril of water. A new trend is putting language in the policy that says any water loss that is reported past a 14 day period will not be covered. If water damage is covered from day one through day thirteen, how does a water loss stop being covered and how do you determine if a water loss is 13 or 17 days old? This is devastating to homeowners.