Making an Insurance Claim Following a Natural Disaster

If your home suffers damage from a natural disaster, filing an insurance claim quickly and correctly is essential because it can help you get money faster to repair your home or replace your personal property. The timeline can vary greatly depending on the type and extent of the damage, but there are steps you can take to help the process go as smoothly as possible.

First and foremost, you should ensure you and your family are safe. If you are not, take immediate action to contact the appropriate authorities to report the incident and get emergency assistance, if needed. Once everyone is safe and accounted for, you can begin filing a claim with your insurance.

To help ensure a timely, accurate and smooth insurance claims experience, provide complete and accurate information about the damage. You should also keep a record of all interactions and communications with your adjuster, insurance company and contractor.

Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect, and actions you should take, throughout each step of the process.

Assess and Document Damages

When it is safe to do so, assess and document damage to your property, including flooding, structural damage to your home or damage to personal property inside your home.

• Capture detailed photos and videos of the damage or loss.
• Create a detailed list of damaged or lost items, including descriptions, quantities and estimated values.

This will help you compare the damage with your insurance company’s estimate.

Contact Your Insurance Provider

Get in touch with your insurance provider or agent, or visit their website, as soon as possible to notify them of the damage to your home and file your claim. Make sure you have the following information readily available:

• Details about the event. This will include the date, time, cause of damage and any emergency measures you took.
• Insurance policy information. You will need to provide your insurance policy number. It may also be helpful to have a copy of your policy on hand to refer to your coverage and deductible amount.

You may be asked to fill out a claim form. Make sure to attach all supporting documents, including photos and videos, requested to complete the claim. It is also a good idea to contact your mortgage servicer to alert them of the damage and keep them updated on repair progress.

Prevent Further Damage

Most insurance policies require you to prevent further damage to your property once your claim is submitted.

If it is safe and feasible to do so, you should make temporary repairs to areas where further damage is possible. For example, cover broken windows or place tarps over areas exposed to the elements.

Make sure to keep receipts for any of these repairs, because your insurance company may reimburse you for these expenses.

Work with Your Adjuster

An adjuster is a professional who works for your insurance company and will be one of your main points of contact once your claim is filed. The adjuster will arrange a time to come out to your property where they will:

• Inspect the damage to your property.
• Determine if the damage is covered by your insurance policy.
• Provide an estimated cost for the repairs.

Make sure you are on-site when the adjuster comes to survey the damage and be ready to provide documentation, including photos and videos of the damage and receipts for temporary repairs.

The adjuster will provide an estimate for the repairs or replacement costs. It is very important to review this estimate carefully. If you have questions or disagree with the estimate, speak directly with the adjuster or your insurance company.

Navigate Settlement and Payout

Your insurance company will send you a settlement offer based on the claims adjuster’s report and your specific policy coverage. Taking the following steps can help improve your experience:

1. Thoroughly review the settlement offer. If you believe the offer is inaccurate, you can negotiate with your insurance company or seek a second opinion.
2. Accept the settlement once you are happy with the offer. You will likely need to sign a release form, which may affect your ability to make further claims for the same incident.
3. Check with your mortgage servicer to verify if they will be involved in the payout process. Some servicers may require their endorsement on checks.
4. Complete repairs and submit bills. Complete the repairs as you and your insurance company agreed. Make sure you save all receipts, invoices and records of repairs. Provide the insurance company with the final bills and proof of payment for reimbursement.

It's important to understand that different policies and insurance companies may pay claims differently. Some may provide an initial partial payment and pay the remainder once you provide proof of payment for the repairs. Others may provide full payment up front. Talk directly with your insurance agent or company to understand how your claim will be paid. 

Going through the insurance claim process can be challenging. Your state insurance department can be a valuable resource in understanding your rights and expectations regarding your claim.