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How To File A Water Damage Insurance Claim After A Flood

Filing a flood insurance claim is something no homeowner wants to do, but a large number of people every single year in the United States have to do this as a result of the heavy rains that come during the spring and summer. Even if you do not think that you are at risk for flooding, you should always be prepared to deal with one on the off chance that it comes to your area. Anyone who lives near a levee of any kind should always prepare, since as we learned during the events of Hurricane Katrina, they do not always hold like they are supposed to. Here are a few tips to help you getting your insurance claim filed and your life back in order.

After the flood is over and the water has receded back out of your home, the first thing you want to do is make sure that the electricity is completely off inside the house. Since there is possibly (or even probably) electrical damage, not shutting off the electricity could cause you to have to file an insurance claim from the hospital. Electrocution is not a pretty sight, so making sure the electricity is off in your home before going back in should be a top priority.

When you call your insurance company, you should have your name, policy number, and a phone number where you can be reached on hand. Try to be patient with them, especially if the area that has been flooded is a large one, because they will have to deal with a lot of other claims. Making sure that they can reach you will speed up the claim process tremendously, so give them the information about wherever you are staying, even if it is not close by your home.

Try to video tape all of the damage to the home so that you have a visual record of it all. This will help your insurance agent be able to tell you how much money you will be able to get from your claim. Then, if you can, make a list of all the things you have on the video so you can give them a detailed list. Do not expect them to watch the video and remember everything; the purpose of the video is to serve as proof of what was lost, but making a list will make it a lot easier on the agent and make sure you get all the money you deserve.

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Rachel Yoshida is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like Chicago Water Damage restoration and St. Charles Water Damage Restoration .

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