Flash flooding on July 12 left high water in some neighborhoods (Source: Air 3, WAVE 3 News)
Water covered the wheels of cars at an apartment complex complex on July 12, (Source: WAVE 3 News)
The flash flooding left streets looking more like rivers. (Source: Air 3, WAVE 3 News)
Posted:
July 13, 2015
If you get storm damage you will want to act quick to file a claim. The more you prepare now, the better shape you'll be in later.
Anyone who has suffered bad storm damage knows the aftermath can be overwhelming. Cleaning up while trying to figure out what's been lost and then filing insurance claims for all those things.
One thing you can do to help the process is to make a list of everything you have in and around your home. Better than a pen and paper is just to grab a camera and start taking pictures.
"The best thing you can do is make sure you videotape and take pictures of all your belongings, room by room," said Rob Holtzmann, President and CEO of Holtzmann Insurance. "That's really going to make sure you have a nice list of things that area that we can very quickly take care of and pay for."
Holtzmann also important to itemize things like jewelery over $3,000, guns and artwork on your policy. If those things aren't itemized specifically on your policy, you may end up getting a pre-determined amount of money that's a lot less than what that policy would normally cover.
With the potential for flood damage as well, anything you can do now to minimize the water that comes in your house will save you money and heartache.
The National Weather Service says flooding causes more damage in the United States than any other weather-related event.
For those who live in a flood plain, flood insurance is available. That's not a possibility for everyone.
"In order to file a claim on your home-owner's policy for water, that would only cover water backup in cases of a sewer or sump pump failure," Holtzmann said. "You're really going to need flood insurance."
But even residents living in areas that are not prone to flooding can make small improvements around the home to prevent water damage not covered under a standard insurance policy.
Redirect down spouts away from the foundation of the home and extend the tubing to carry the water further away .
Keep gutters and down spouts clear of debris that will excess water overflow
Caulk any cracks seen around the foundation that might allow seepage into a basement or crawlspace
Install a sump pump and foundation drain system to force water out from under the house
It's also really important to keep a list of everything in and around your home the easiest way is to just grab your camera or phone and take video. And have a good relationship with your agent. That's the person you are going to call and need if your home is hit by one of these storms.