Damage Has Occurred - Now What?
Make a detailed list of the damages and contact your insurance agent promptly. The
sooner you call, the faster you can be served (usually within a few hours). If you
aren't able to call from home, don't forget to tell me where you can be reached.
- Do temporary repairs to prevent further damage from weather or looting.
- If there is extensive damage, hire a reliable contractor. Beware of fraudulent contractors
who prey on disaster victims.
- Keep all repair receipts for your insurance agent.
- Most of all, especially for a hurricane (where there is extensive and widespread
damage), please be patient. Your insurance agent must handle claims based on need,
taking care of the most serious situations first. If that situation is yours, be
secure in the knowledge that you will be taken care of, and taken care of soon.
- Finally, in the wake of a major disaster, cooperate with the authorities. Whether
you're asked to relinquish phone lines, keep off emergency roads or anything else,
you must comply. In the aftermath of a major disaster, everyone must pitch in and
do their part.