Steps to Recovering after a Storm

5/30/2017 (Permalink)

Bad weather can spring up without much warning. Most of the time when a bad thunderstorm is threatening your area, you hardly have enough time to find shelter. As a homeowner, it is important to think about these moments before they occur.

Do you have the correct insurance policy? Is your home going to be covered in the event of a disaster? Is the amount of coverage going to be enough to restore your home? Thinking about these questions BEFORE the storm damage occurs can make your life after much easier.

Before you do anything else, stop and make sure your home is covered for the following:

Water and Windstorm Damage

Debris and Tree Removal

Sewer Backup Due to Flooding

Sump Pump Failure Due to Flooding

Additional Living Expenses in Case a Storm Forces You Out of Your Home

Once you have the proper home insurance coverage for storm damage, you can feel safer during the event of a tragedy. Seeing your home in ruins after a major storm can be heartbreaking. It can be difficult for families to know how to move on from this misfortune. The best thing you can do for your family and for your home is to begin storm damage recovery immediately. If you have suffered loss or damage because of bad weather, take the following steps on how to recover:

Take Pictures of the Damage

As soon as you are able, you need to start documenting the damage that has been done to your home. The trick to good storm damage recovery is keeping solid records of the damage. This includes noting any conversations that you have with your insurance agency and with the restoration company about the damage. You should be able to provide them with pictures and evidence of the destruction.

Make an Insurance Claim

It is crucial that you contact your home insurance agency immediately after your home suffers from storm damage. This is one of the biggest steps in storm damage recovery. Your homeowner’s insurance company should be able to provide you with support and structure for moving this process forward to restoring your home.

To start, you should find an exact copy of your homeowner’s insurance policy and determine if the damage exceeds your deductible. You will then need to work with your insurance company to get the necessary money and repairs completed. They will be able to refer you to local restoration companies, some may have preferred contractors that they will recommend, but the decision is ultimately yours as to who you chose to use. Once you have made your decision, report it back to your insurance company.

Finding a contractor that works directly with your insurance company is your best option, and it will save you time and hassle. Being the man in the middle of the two companies can be difficult. There are some contractors who make it their goal to work directly with your insurance company (SERVPRO is one of them) to improve communication during the project. This will take a lot of stress and pressure off you during this difficult time.

Make Temporary Repairs

Once all the proper claims have been made and the damage has been reported correctly, you can begin to make some temporary repairs. These repairs don’t have to be major reconstructions, and they don’t have to last your family forever. You can start by making your home livable again.

If you have suffered roof damage, place a tarp or plastic material over your roof to keep your home from being damaged further by additional rain. Begin the water mitigation process by having all the wet, destroyed materials removed and drying equipment put in place to prevent further damage from microbial growth. If you have lost a wall or large portion of your home, work on closing off that section of your house until you can do more permanent repairs.

Allow Your Family to Recover Slowly

Home repairs do not have to be completed all at one time. Storm damage can take several months to fully recover from and it is important to give your family the time that need. It might take a while before your home is fully restored to its former glory, but it is important that you take your time and get the job done correctly.

Call SERVPRO of Oak Park/Ferndale if you find yourself victim of Mother Nature’s wrath. We are a preferred contractor for most insurance companies and we can work directly with any insurance company to take that stress off your hands, you have enough to worry about. Just give us a call at 248-246-0790 after your insurance claim has been made and we’ll handle the rest.