Responsibilities After a Hurricane

Even with prior notice, the damage a hurricane brings to your home can be devastating. After the incident, your best course of action is to contact your insurance agent and try to get your life back to normal as soon as possible.

Here are some tips to help you mitigate the damages and prepare for the healing process after surviving a hurricane:

Return to Your Home and Take Pictures

It’s important to get back to your home after the storm to assess any damage. Take pictures of anything and everything that is out of place. We suggest taking images from multiple different angles to provide a clear view of the damage for your insurance provider.

Store the pictures in a safe place. Whether you have a safe, can place them in a digital cloud, or simply print off hard copies from your camera, any pictures are sufficient proof of damage from the storm and must be protected. Continue reading “Tips on Navigating Your Insurance Policy & Your Responsibilities After a Hurricane” →

Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season

It’s that time of year where hurricane weather could be on the horizon. Now is the best time to prepare your home for hurricane season so that you can minimize any and all potential damage. Here are 10 ways that you can do just that!

• Install Impact Windows

Double-pained, air-tight storm windows will keep air out and resist impact from flying debris.

• Invest in Fiberglass Doors

A fiberglass door can be designed to look like wood, so you won’t have to compromise on looks, but it will also outperform normal wooden doors in severe weather. Continue reading “Hurricane Season: 10 Ways to Prepare Your Home” →

Avoiding Water Damage During a Major Storm

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. Unfortunately, you don’t always have to live right next to a body of water for it to happen. Hurricanes, water runoff, and even melting snow can all create substantial water damage in a home.

Giving your house the protection it needs before the major storm comes through your area can keep water from destroying fundamental parts of your home.

Preparation

Sandbags have been used for centuries to prevent flooding. They’re effective for diverting water, which makes them a great line of defense. Sandbags are generally made of burlap. They often hold coarse sand. They can be stacked to build barriers around low-lying areas of the home to protect water from getting in doors or damaging the foundation.

Continue reading “During a Major Storm: Avoid Water Damage” →

What Is Included in a Storm Damage Assessment?

If you’ve gone through a storm, even if you and your loved ones are perfectly intact, it’s possible that your home could’ve taken a considerable amount of damage. It’s in your best interest to do a Storm Damage Assessment if you want to file a claim with your insurer. 

If the damage is visibly severe, it’s likely that you’re going to need to call in a professional and keep from inspecting it yourself. There are contractors who are skilled and equipped to perform an assessment based on the following: 

Continue reading “Storm Damage Assessment: What Is Included?” →