Major Hurricanes can be devastating events that can cause confusion and shock. It is important to prepare ahead of time so you know what to do when the BEFORE the hurricane hits.
HAVE ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS PREPARED AND READY TO SUBMIT TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY FOR YOUR HURRICANE INSURANCE CLAIM.
The key to filing your hurricane insurance claim and to ensure that you, the insurance policyholder, receive the hurricane insurance settlement you are entitled to – is to ensure that you are prepared BEFORE the Hurricane happens.
When a major hurricane hits, it is essential to have all your important documents prepared and organized ahead of time. This will help ease your hurricane storm-related stress and it will also help you in being one of the first to file your hurricane insurance claim with your insurance company.
Important steps to take well ahead of a potential hurricane and a hurricane insurance claim.
- Take photos of everything you own. Especially anything of significant value such as jewelry, appliances, computers, furniture, etc. Also take photos of everything you own so as to document for your contents insurance claim.
- Take multiple-shot photos and videos of the inside and outside of your home, every room and every section. Make sure to include the foundation, the roof, the pool, and sheds and attached buildings as well as fences. Be as thorough as possible.
- Be sure to keep a written inventory of every item of value in your home, complete with brand name/model/serial number. Document the purchase date, location and price. Scan or keep all receipts of any items that could be potentially damaged by a hurricane and potentially be included in your hurricane insurance claim.
- Scan all vital documentation (I.D.’s, Passports, Birth Certificates etc.) for everyone in your home.
- Secure all your vital information in a safe place. One of the best. ideas is to upload it all into a secure cloud storage system
Create a hurricane family emergency plan.
In case of a hurricane emergency, it is vital that everyone in the family knows where to go in case you lose contact with your loved ones after the hurricane. Having a plan in place of knowing what numbers to call, what evacuation routes should be taken if necessary, and what procedures to follow after a major hurricane.
Consider hiring contractors that you might need before the hurricane hits. This will help to ensure that you get back to normal as soon as possible after a hurricane.
- Hire all contractors you might need for your home or business before anything happens.
- If you wait to find contractors after the hurricane you may experience a lot of unreturned calls and very long waits.
- Try to have carpenters, roofers, landscapers, electricians, and handymen ready to go in advance of a potential hurricane. This will help to ensure, that if a hurricane occurs, you can get back to normal day-to-day as soon after the Hurricane as you can.
Prepare in advance with an emergency bag for each family member.
If the time comes to evacuate in advance of a hurricane it is important to have items ready ahead of time. Consider including clothes, toiletries and medication in case you have to evacuate from a hurricane threat.
Consider hiring a Public Insurance Adjuster to avoid hurricane insurance claim submission mistakes and to ideally speed up the process for your hurricane insurance claim.
Public insurance adjusters are licensed to represent you, the policyholder, NOT the insurance company. They are your advocate and act in your best interest. The insurance adjuster that is sent by your insurance company is sent to represent the best interests of the insurance company – NOT you the insurance policyholder.
Preparation is key for both minor and major hurricanes. If you prepare, you will likely have less stress and be able to focus to keep your loved ones safe.