An Insurer's Guide to Protecting Your Home and Property, Preparing for a Hurricane

The Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island has lent some helpful hints to help property owners prepare for a storm, protect one's home and property, and provide instructions for reporting your loss should one occur:

To Prepare:

• Contact your agent to make sure that your policy is current. It is important that all changes (such as a change of mortgagee, mailing address or coverage) have been properly endorsed and that your payments are up to date.
• Read your policy and talk with your agent to make sure that you know what is covered.
• Gather your personal hurricane supplies such as batteries, radio, flashlight, and water.
• Check your windows and garage door to ensure that they are secure.
• Trim trees.
• Take a personal inventory of your home. An easy website to assist you in recording your personal belongings is www.knowyourstuff.org
• Micro-chip your pet.

To Report a Claim:

• Report the claim to your insurance company by telephone, by fax, or by internet reporting.
• Know your policy number: My policy number is: ______________________________
• When you report the claim, a claim number will be assigned. My claim number is: ____________________
• A Claim Adjuster will be assigned. My adjuster is: ____________________; Phone #:________________

To Protect Your Property After A Loss:

Your insurance company will make every effort to inspect all damages quickly. To protect your home and property after a loss:

• Take reasonable steps to protect your home and property from further damage by doing temporary repairs.
• If you relocate from your address or change your contact phone numbers notify your agent and your adjuster.
• Do not contract for any permanent repairs until an adjuster has inspected the damage.
• If possible, take photographs of the damage.
• Keep all receipts and invoices.
• Obtain itemized repair estimates.
• Use only licensed and insured contractors who are properly registered with the local Building Authority.

Finally, please remember - your homeowner's policy does not cover flood, only flood insurance covers flood.

Don't wait until there is a storm to make sure you are properly protected from financial and personal disaster. Contact your agent to review your insurance coverage and learn more about the best type of disaster protection for you.