What to Claim on Insurance After a Hurricane

Hurricanes leave widespread damage and present significant challenges for homeowners. Navigating the aftermath requires understanding insurance coverage and meticulously preparing a claim. Knowing how to approach this process can greatly impact a homeowner’s ability to recover and rebuild.

Understanding Your Insurance Coverage

Preparing for a hurricane claim begins with understanding your insurance policies and their specific coverage. Standard homeowners insurance policies cover damage to your dwelling and personal property caused by wind, including hurricane-force winds. This coverage includes structural damage, such as a compromised roof or broken windows, and can help replace damaged personal belongings. If your home becomes uninhabitable due to covered damage, additional living expenses (ALE) coverage, also known as loss of use, may cover temporary housing, meals, and other increased living costs beyond your normal expenditures.

An important distinction in homeowners insurance is that it excludes flood damage, even if the flooding results from a hurricane. A separate flood insurance policy is necessary for protection against flood-related losses. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is the main source of flood insurance for residential properties. An NFIP policy covers direct physical loss caused by flooding to the insured building and its contents, with building coverage limits up to $250,000 and contents coverage up to $100,000 for residential properties.

In certain high-risk coastal areas, standard homeowners policies might exclude wind damage or apply a separate, higher deductible for wind-related losses. In these regions, a specific windstorm or hurricane insurance policy may be required or recommended to cover damage from high winds, hail, and other wind-driven events. These specialized policies often have hurricane deductibles, which are a percentage of your home’s insured value, typically ranging from 1% to 5%, though they can be higher in some areas.

Preparing Your Claim Documentation

After ensuring personal safety, taking immediate steps to prevent further damage to your property is an important step. Insurers often require policyholders to mitigate additional losses, such as tarping a damaged roof or boarding up broken windows. Keep detailed records and receipts for all expenses incurred during these temporary repairs and mitigation efforts, as these costs are reimbursable under your policy.

Thorough documentation of all damage is a key aspect of preparing an insurance claim. This involves capturing visual evidence, including both wide-angle and close-up photographs and videos, of all affected areas of your property, inside and out, before any cleanup or repair work begins. This visual record should clearly show the extent of structural damage, such as roof integrity, wall damage, and broken windows, as well as any damage to personal belongings. Create a detailed inventory of damaged or destroyed personal property, detailing each item’s description, approximate age, estimated value, and purchase information.

To substantiate the value of higher-cost items, gathering proof of ownership and value is important. This evidence can include original purchase receipts, credit card statements, appraisals for jewelry or art, and warranty information. For any temporary repairs, emergency services like water extraction or tree removal, and additional living expenses, retaining all receipts is important. Organize all insurance policy documents, including policy numbers, coverage limits, and applicable deductibles, to ensure this important information is easily accessible when you contact your insurer.

Filing Your Insurance Claim

After carefully gathering all necessary documentation, contact your insurance provider to file your claim. This initial report can be made via phone, online portal, or mobile application. Be prepared to provide your policy number, the date the hurricane caused damage, and a brief description of the damage sustained.

The claims process involves several stages, beginning with the assignment of a claims adjuster. The adjuster will inspect your property to assess the damage, review your submitted documentation, and prepare an estimate for repairs. During the adjuster’s inspection, it is important to be present to highlight all areas of damage and provide the documentation you compiled, including photos, videos, inventory lists, and receipts for temporary repairs. Engaging with the adjuster and asking questions about their assessment and the next steps can help clarify the process.

Upon completion of the assessment, your insurer will provide a settlement offer. Review this offer carefully to ensure it accurately reflects all documented losses and aligns with your policy’s terms and coverage limits. If the initial offer appears insufficient or does not cover all damages, you can provide additional supporting documentation, such as contractor estimates, or negotiate with the insurer. Throughout the claims process, maintaining a detailed log of all communications, including dates, names of individuals spoken to, and summaries of discussions, can be helpful in tracking your claim’s progress and resolving any potential disputes.