5 Essential Components of Filing a Flood Claim

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

The 5 Most Important Steps in Filing a Flood Claim

If your Costa Mesa, CA, home is hit with floodwaters, you know there is a long path ahead to getting your property back to as it was. The sooner you get a flood claim filed, the faster an adjuster will be able to come and complete an assessment to get the ball rolling. To help maximize your insurance claim, the following five steps should be taken.

1. Verify Policy Coverage
In many cases, a general home insurance policy does not include flooding. It’s important to check it or any secondary policies to have an idea of what may or may not be covered so there are no surprises.

2. File a Flood Claim
With your policy information in hand, contact your insurance provider to get the claim started. Keep in mind that if it is a weather-related event that caused the issue, your home was probably not the only one affected. Insurance companies will likely be inundated with calls, which makes acting fast even more essential.

3. Document the Damage
While waiting for the adjuster, take videos and pictures of all the damage both indoors and outdoors. This will help solidify your claim and may speed up the process. Be sure to not remove anything from the home prior to the adjuster arriving.

4. Make Necessary Temporary Repairs
While you may not be able to start permanent repairs, temporary repairs will likely be required by your insurance provider to prevent secondary damage. This may include tarping or boarding up exposed areas or beginning the water extraction and drying-out processes.

5. Contact a Restoration Company
The second call should be to a storm and water damage restoration specialist. A certified professional will not only be able to help with temporary repairs but will also conduct an assessment and provide a clear plan of action to restore your home the right way.

While you may not be able to remove all of the hassles out of a flood claim, being prepared and taking the above steps may make it go more smoothly.