Flood Damage Claims: A Step-By-Step Guide

9/21/2018 (Permalink)

If you have experienced a storm damage in Santa Maria, CA contact an adjuster

Did you recently experience a storm in Santa Maria, CA, that left your home with flood damage? If so, and you have insurance coverage for such an occurrence, you need to make a flood claim as soon as possible. How can you go about doing so? Follow these three steps to make sure that your insurance claim is properly reported.

1. Contact an Adjuster

The very first thing that you need to do is contact the adjuster for your flood policy to report the destruction. If you do not have flood coverage, this would be the time to contact any applicable government agencies for information on available assistance, as your homeowners’ policy will not likely cover anything related to flooding. If you are in a designated disaster area, there may be federal aid available.

2. Clean and Recover

You will want to begin cleaning and salvaging your house and items before the insurance representative arrives. This could be a good time to contact a restoration company to help you with any water damage or drying that is needed as a result of the flood. Just make sure to take pictures of damaged items and areas of your property to show as proof of loss. Cleaning the building and recording everything makes the adjuster’s job easier when assessing the situation.

3. Prepare for the Adjuster’s Arrival

In case the representative assessing damage related to your flood claim arrives when you are not at home, be sure to leave your contact information for him or her. Understand that you will likely sign a proof of loss statement before your claim is approved. If more damage is found later on, that will be added to the insurance company’s record.

Preparing for a flood claim when you are dealing with the emotional aftermath of a natural disaster is anything but easy. Having a plan in place and being educated about what your insurance company needs from you will help things go more smoothly at the time of the assessment.