What Should I Do After a Flood Affects My Home?

Flood damage can hit hard, but you can get back on the road to recovery.

Unfortunately, the damage caused by a flooding event is often the most extensive and expensive a homeowner will ever have to face.  In fact, a single inch of water can cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in home remediation and repair costs.  Not sure what to do to deal with your home’s flood damages.  From accessing your homeowners insurance in Carrollton, Texas to documenting damage; here’s what you should do after a flood hits your home.

Make Important Phone Calls

  • Call your loved ones to let them know that you and your family are okay. At this time, you might also want to arrange a temporary place for your family to stay; it will not be safe to remain in your home if it has suffered major flood damage.
  • Contact FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or another local aid agency. These organizations may be able to offer you free assistance and resources to help you get back on your feet.
  • If you have flood insurance, then contact your insurance agent to begin the claims process. If you do not have flood insurance, then your standard homeowners insurance will not offer coverage for your home’s damages.  Make sure you secure flood insurance for any future flood events.

Document Your Damage

  • Take photos and videos as you walk through your home. Make sure you capture damage inside and outside of your home.  This documentation will help your claims process and will help you keep track of all the repairs you need to make.

Meet with Your Insurance Adjuster

  • When your insurance adjuster arrives, be ready to provide them with your policy number, records, and other insurance information they might require.
  • Do not begin home repairs until you have received physical (written or emailed) approval from your adjuster.

Choose the Right Contractor

  • Once you receive the official go-ahead and know how much coverage you are receiving for your insurer, you can begin repairing your home. Get estimates from several contractors to get a better idea of what your repairs will cost.
  • Choose a contractor with previous experience dealing with flood damage. Additionally, make sure that the contractor you select is officially licensed and bonded and has good reviews or comes highly recommended.

These are some of the steps that you will have to take to jumpstart your flood recovery process.  Want to make sure that your home has the right coverage to protect against this risk and any other threats that it might face?  Then turn to the experts at Mike Leonard Insurance Agency to secure the most comprehensive homeowners insurance in Carrollton, Texas.   Our dedicated team is eager to find you the right coverage from one of our many carriers including: Kemper, MetLife, Travelers, The Hartford, Safeco Insurance, Progressive, and American Strategic Insurance.