Choosing A Better Insurance Plan

Tips to Help You Manage Your Insurance Claim After a Flood

by Isabella Torres

If you live in an area where flooding is a possibility, it is important to understand the process of filing a flood damage claim with your insurance provider. Flood insurance is generally handled by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This program knows how to deal with flood claims, which is why you need to understand what you do as well. The insurance company is going to come and visit your property in order to assess the damage. There are things you can do to prepare for their visit, and the steps you need to take during your visit to ensure you get timely payment for the losses you suffered.

Photograph All Damaged Property

First, you are going to want to take pictures of all damaged property. If you have standing water inside of your home following the flood, take extensive pictures when the water is still present, before you work to pump and remove the water from your home. These pictures, which will show how the floodwater impacted your home, will be important later in the claims process. Once you have gotten rid of the standing water, you need to start documenting everything that was damaged. That means taking pictures of structural damage to your home, as well as pictures of items that are damaged. Try to take individuals pictures of each item that was damaged by the floodwaters. Try to take pictures of the damaged objects in their original state before you go through any steps to save the items.

Remove and Separate Damaged Items from Non-Damaged Items

It may take a while for the flood adjustment to visit your home. During that time, you can separate property that was damaged by the flood from property that was not damaged by the flood. At this point in time, you shouldn't throw away any flood-damaged items. Instead, gather everything up together and document it well. Contact your insurance company before disposing of anything.

Show the Adjuster All the Damage

When the Flood Damage Insurance Claims Adjuster visits, show them all the structural damage as well as the damaged property. Provide them with electronic copies of all the pictures and videos you took of the damage from before the adjuster arrived.

Get the Right Forms From the Adjuster

The adjuster should provide you with a proof of loss form and should explain to you how to fill out the form. You have a lot to handle right now, but it is important to get the form back to your insurance company, signed and with detailed documentation within the time frame given to you. This form is required in order for NFIP to compensate you for the damage to your home.

After your home is damaged by a flood, document everything. This documentation will prove what you lost during the flood, and will help ensure you get fair compensation for the damage. Work with your claims adjuster to fill out all the paperwork necessary for you to get payments so you can start rebuilding and repairing your home. 

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