Whether you have a broken pipe, were hard hit by a storm, or live by a flooded river, water can literally put your house under water. If you fall a victim to any of these unfortunate circumstances, it is important to remember the following steps:
1. Always ensure your safety first. You may be tempted to salvage your belongings, however, water, especially lots of water, can create hazardous conditions for you and your family. From a weakened structure, to damage to gas or electric lines, your home can become an extremely dangerous area, especially when walking on cracked floors or wading through standing water near electrical shorts.
2. Document your damage. Take photos and/or videos of the damage to your home and belongings before draining any of the water, removing your items, or making any repairs, especially since this will help to have an accurate depiction of the extent of the damage for insurance purposes.
3. Contact your insurance agent. Notify your insurance agent immediately. Some flood damage is not covered by typical homeowners insurance policies, so it is important to communicate with your provider in order to discover what, if any, coverage is available. Your agent can also help to advise you if you need to wait for an adjuster to inspect your property before making any repairs. Also, be sure to document the process with pictures and receipts.
Your insurance company can help to provide you with the contact information for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will be a great resource of information if your flood is part of a wider problem. Should your area be declared an official “disaster area” by the government, you may be eligible to receive additional financial assistance as well.
For more information, contact Brazelton Insurance Group today!