Filing a Flood Insurance Claim

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

Flood Damage in a White Bear Lake, MN, home.

While making a flood claim may sound like an intimidating process, any storm remediation professional in White Bear Lake, MN, can tell you the process is straightforward. After the flood, there is a standard four-step process you can follow to protect your claim and ensure its approval.

• Call insurer
  
• Mitigate loss
  
• Clean
  
• Compile proof of loss
  

4 Steps to Filing a Flood Insurance Claim

Call Insurer

You will first want to call your insurance representative and explain the cause of the disaster and when it occurred to get the insurance claim process moving. The sooner you can notify the insurance company, the better because they need to schedule an adjuster to come out and assess the damage to your property. Most adjusters have a busy schedule, which means they may not visit the site for a few days or more.

Mitigate Loss

A significant portion of the flood claim process will rely on the homeowner and the remediation company they hire. The primary aim before the adjuster gets to the property is to mitigate further loss. You will want to cover holes and excavate excess water. Also, dehumidifiers, fans and pumps may be used to speed up the drying process.

Clean

While waiting for the adjuster to visit, you can begin cleaning your house. However, do not be too quick to dispose of damaged or insured items. You will need a record for the insurance agent when they arrive. Cleaning the property allows the adjuster to walk the premises and spot damage more easily.

Compile Proof of Loss

You may want to organize damaged items for the adjuster to inspect. Also, it is an excellent idea to compile any receipts you may have for the items to help in the valuation process.

A flood claim need not be a confusing or overwhelming process. If you organize the mitigation and cleanup, remediation and claim procedures are more approachable. Talk to a remediation specialist for greater insight into the claims process.