Tips to help Consumers Get Fair Insurance Treatment After Hurricane Beryl
Texas Watch joined the Consumer Federation of America and Texas Appleseed in compiling a list of tips consumers can use in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
CFA, Texas Watch, and Texas Appleseed recommend that insured property owners with damaged homes take the following steps:
- Contact your insurance company and report your claim as quickly as possible. Depending on what caused the damage to your home, your claim may be covered by homeowners insurance or flood insurance, or by both.
- Document the damage in photos and videos as thoroughly as possible, but only to the extent that it is safe to do so. Do not allow damaged items to be removed before they have been photo-documented.
- Keep a daily journal, noting every time you speak or interact with insurance company adjusters, repair professionals, and anyone else you are considering hiring. Note their name and the date and time of the contact.
- Maintain receipts for every cost you incur; this includes hotel and food costs if you evacuate, any alternative living arrangement costs if you cannot return to your home, and any costs for making initial repairs to your home to prevent further damage. This may be covered under your homeowners insurance policy or private flood insurance policy. Temporary living expenses are not covered under National Flood Insurance Program policies.
- Check references and license status before you agree to hire or assign any of your insurance benefits to any professional. Unfortunately, post-disaster scams are common. Local help is preferable but if not available, be careful and vet out-of-the-area pros before you sign on the dotted line.
- Contact your Insurance Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, for flood insurance) if you run into problems.
To read more about these tips, visit here.
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