The First Question Should Be is My Water Damage Loss Covered
The variations of water damage to dwellings can be many and
many times homeowners are shocked to learn that their specific policy does not
cover a particular type of water loss. Being stuck with a high repair out-of-pocket
expense can be disheartening to any owner and should be avoided. Steps can be
taken to insure this does not happen. First before disaster strikes policies
should be reviewed and questions should be asked the home insurance company.
Particular insurance policies should be understood and defined to outline the
basic water damage coverage. For instance most policies cover damage that
occurs from rain that enters through a hole in the roof caused by winds but not
water that rises above slab heights and floods carpets and wood floors. There
is no insignificant question that can be asked when so much is at stake. A
clear understanding is crucial. You may want to check out sewage cleanup for more.
Next Question Asked Is My Property Located in a Flood Zone
Flood zones are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area or
SFHA by the Federal Emergency Management Agency otherwise known as FEMA. These
areas are identified on a flood map as high risk because of factors such as
close proximity to rivers, coastlines receiving storm surges, consistent
weather patterns of heavy rainfall and places of development and erosion. FEMA
provides online guides to decide where communities are located within the Flood
Map and what the exact individual's risks are. FEMA also provides an enormous
amount of information from projected risk scenarios to cost of flooding charts.
This information again is critical to decide adequate insurance coverage for a
homeowner's water damage loss. Insurance agents can help give this information
also.
My House is Flooded I Have Insurance in Place What Do I Do
Now
The adage "Time is of the Essence" rings true in
this situation. Water damage increases exponentially as the clock ticks.
Flooding will travel along the path of least resistance indoors soaking into
drywall, carpet, flooring and sub-flooring compromising the integrity of the
structure. Emergency water removal will lessen the damage and cost that's
required for complete restoration. A water mitigation company should be called
immediately. They operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week and should be equipped
with water extraction equipment, dehumidifiers and air movers to start the
process of completely eliminating all humidity and moisture content from the
dwelling. The next step should be contacting the claims department with the
insurance carrier to file a claim and start the process. A claim adjuster will
be able to answer any questions particular to an individual's policy and issue
claim numbers after filing.
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