GREENSBORO, N.C. — Debby brought rain, wind, and flood waters. If you have damage and need to make an insurance claim, there are three things to know:
#1 Keep yourself safe
. Your safety is always the priority.
#2 Document the damage.
Grab your phone and take a video of the damage and record your voice, explaining what you're seeing, what happened. Pictures and video are great tools to document damage.
#3 Stop further damage.
"You have an obligation as an insured to try to stop further damage. Nothing you can do about raging floodwaters. But if it's been a wind event that's blown a bunch of stuff off your roof, you need to secure that to prevent further damage. You have an obligation there," said Christopher Cook of Alliance Insurance Services.
The next step is to report your claim. Most companies have online forms to submit pictures and videos. You'll also want to call your local insurance agent, which can help speed up the process.
DOES INSURANCE COVER FLOOD DAMAGE?
"A flood is specifically excluded in your homeowner's policy. So you would have to have purchased a flood insurance policy, at least 30 days ago for there to be coverage there. If not, you're on your own. FEMA has some grants, but that's the best that the insurance industry can offer you," said Cook.
WHO PAYS WHEN A TREE FALLS ON YOUR HOUSE?
When it comes to wind damage, like from a tree falling on your house, that is covered by your homeowner's policy. Who pays for the damage? The short answer is, if your property is damaged, you are the one paying. It doesn't matter if the tree came from your property or your neighbor's property.
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