Recently, we've seen an increase in storms that have destroyed homes and left communities in a state of distress. Many people don't know what to do after storm damage but don't worry because I'll tell you a few steps you can take in the aftermath of a storm.
The topics which I'll cover are:
As I mentioned before, the storms have a devastating effect on its surroundings, including its residents. There have been a lot of storm-related deaths. More than 160 people pass away because of some storm-related event.
Furthermore, (in the stats taken from Statista) the cost of property damage has increased significantly over the past years. During the past decade, the overall cost of property damage has increased nearly up to $500 billion.
Since these are natural disasters, there is no way to prevent them from happening. The best way I can think of for your family's safety when faced with these unnatural disasters would be having an emergency plan laid out beforehand, so everyone knows their role at home or outside.
Ensure all the doors and windows are bordered up. Furthermore, hide yourself and your family members in the basement to ensure no one gets hurt.
When the storm passes away, you may feel disoriented and don't know what to do and where to start. Everything is a mess and a pile of rubble.
Let's go over a few steps that you can take after a storm has passed.
Here are 5 things you can do after storm damage.
When a storm rolls through, it's essential to take precautions for your safety and those around you. Keep your eyes open for any hazards in the area caused by recent storms, like exposed nails or screws, which may be exposed during the clean-up efforts.
Furthermore, stay away from caved-in roofing materials left behind from fallen tiles due to high winds. They could collapse any minute and cause life-threatening injuries.
There can also be some broken power lines which can be extremely dangerous if some of them are live. The best way to stay safe is when there is power out in your area, especially if you find yourself near any downed lines that may be energized and dangerous.
Never approach the fallen spans unless it's an emergency where someone has called 9-1-1 for help. Instead, keep away from them as much as possible by getting into a car or building with doors.
If you smell anything like natural gas, STOP USING IT RIGHT AWAY because this could spark another issue very quickly.
Assessing the damage to your home after the storm is crucial to compensation from the insurance company. Be cautious as you move about and not cause further distress for yourself or anyone else, but also so that no more harm comes to anyone.
Take pictures of all interior & exterior detailing. It will ensure full compensation from insurance companies if necessary. Since such effects can be highly destructive, then in all likely hood, you'll be compensated.
While inspecting the damage, you should keep the following things in mind:
After analyzing and documenting all the damage done to your property, call your agent as soon as possible and stay in contact with the agent until it's resolved.
It'll help to explain what kinds of things are covered by an insurance policy with a little bit more detail on how they think this could affect things financially for you going forward, so make sure that everything's clear.
The company will then send out an adjuster who determines how much clean-up work needs to be done after storms/flooding.
The insurance company will cover the following damages:
After everything is said and done, now you'll need to prevent any more damage. First, cover up broken windows or a leaking roof with tarps and plywood so that water cannot get inside of your home, as this will only cause more problems in the future if left unchecked.
If there are no nearby restoration services available, consider contacting an insurance company that can help locate one for a trusted contractor near were ever possible before things spiral out of control again.
Additionally, it is recommended that you book a hotel room and prevent any more damage during this.
It is vital to keep good documentation for any claim you make on your homeowner's insurance. For example, save all receipts from materials and labor so that you receive fair reimbursement from them (which hopefully won't be too much!).
Familiarize yourself with what coverage exists under their policy; some homeowners have found they're not covered if there was damage caused by flooding - even though this type of event may seem inevitable at times.
Some people live in high-risk areas for storms and floods. If you're one of them, speak with your agent about whether it's worth having storm damage or flood insurance on the house so that if any disasters strike, we can help get everything back up again after they've passed.
In the aftermath of such disastrous stay calm and devise a plan that best suits your needs and requirements. Such events can cause significant stress, but we should never be disheartened and keep on moving forward.
When an unexpected disaster hits your home or business, you need an honest and dependable company available to help you 24/7.
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