In 2022, it is estimated that there is a 40% chance that sea temperatures will be above average and no El Niño will occur. This information points to a higher than average hurricane season.
During the next hurricane season, which runs from June through November, there is a high probability of 6-8 hurricanes and 2-3 major hurricanes.
Weather damage is not something you can avoid which makes hurricanes even scarier. In case your home gets damaged in a storm, you need to know how to make a hurricane claim.
Keep reading to learn more.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
After a hurricane, you should note the damage done to your home and relay the message to your insurance provider. If you are covered, the insurance company should help you with a repair plan that complies with your policy.
They’ll also start reimbursing you for smaller losses like appliances, furniture, electronics, etc. When your insurance provider has all of the information they need regarding your hurricane claim, they can streamline the process.
You should have an idea of what your hurricane policy covers. If something doesn’t sound right and you think the insurer is trying to pull the wool over your eyes, hire a lawyer.
You can read more on insurance claim lawyers to learn if legal help will benefit you.
Document Losses
During the insurance claims process, you will want to document all of the damages done to your property. The more details you can give, the better someone will be able to assist you.
List every damaged item and include the value of the item. You’ll also benefit from knowing when you purchased the item and the type of damage sustained.
Written descriptions are necessary, but take it a step further and use your phone to take pictures of damages as well. Visual evidence will go a long way to supporting and completing your claim.
Understand the Repair Process
Hurricane claims, and any insurance claim for that matter, might take a while to complete. You might have to leave your home in disrepair while your claim is processing.
Putting your home back together right after a hurricane can affect the outcome of your claim. This is why the first step of the process is to talk with your insurer. They can explain how your policy handles repairs.
Temporary fixes are often okay but check with the insurer first to confirm this is true. If the damages to your home make it unlivable, find a temporary stay. Your policy might provide temporary relocation coverage.
Major repairs are often handled later on in the claims process.
Keep Track of Expenses
Stay in touch with your insurance provider to learn which types of expenses are covered by your policy. Every policy is different, but you might be surprised to learn what yours covers.
Keep track of all receipts to determine if any can be added to your claim.
Learning How to File a Hurricane Claim
To create a hurricane claim after dealing with the damage of any kind from a storm, you’ll first need to connect with your insurance company.
In a lot of cases, insurance providers might find ways to downplay your scenario and offer you less money than your damage is worth. If you feel like you aren’t getting a fair claims process, hire a lawyer to help.
Once you have professionals on your side, start documenting losses, learn about the repair process, and keep track of all hurricane-related receipts and expenses.
For more articles about the home that offer legal advice, check out the other posts on our website.
Hemant Kumar is a project manager at Tridindia with more than nine years of commendable experience in writing about LMS, translation, and IT. His unmatched talent and passion for digital marketing gave him the opportunity to work as a multi-tasking project manager at TridIndia’s sister company, Link Building Corp. Today, he contributes to the world by imparting knowledge on SEO, link building and internet marketing etc., that helps business owners grow their online business.
