Even though life may seem incredibly hectic after a destructive storm rolls through, there are many important things that you’ll want to do, especially if you’re looking to file an insurance claim. Here are 10 tips for cleaning up after a storm:
1. Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. You’ll want to cover up holes in the walls, roof, or the windows with boards or plastic so that inclement weather cannot further damage your home. Make sure that you stay safe and don’t risk your own safety while making these repairs, especially if the repairs are on the roof.
2. Contact your insurance company immediately so that they know damage has occurred, the severity of the damage, and the time it happened. Make sure you supply them with good contact information and you have a record of all correspondence with the insurance company.
3. Save all your receipts from all the repair expenses, since you most likely can be reimbursed for those materials.
4. Take photographic or video evidence of the damage for insurance reasons. This will be important later on when you are talking with your insurance company and trying to file a claim.
5. Don’t throw out damaged personal property items before your insurance company has seen it. You should be especially certain to keep damaged furniture or other significantly expensive items so that the insurance will be able to verify their damage and eventually replace it.
6. You should try to provide heat to your home if you have the means to do so (like with a generator) if the temperatures outside are below freezing. If you are unable to do so, consider turning off the water and draining pipes to prevent freezing pipes from bursting.
7. If your home has suffered significant enough damage that you cannot occupy your home safely, talk to you insurance company. They often times will cover your living expenses while repairs to your home are being made.
8. Avoid using electrical appliances, such as televisions or speakers if they’ve been exposed to water, unless you’ve had a technician tell you they are safe to use.
9. Keep away from dangerous situations such as downed power lines or fallen trees. These situations are best handled by professionals and may pose a significant threat to your well being.
10. Make sure the food that you eat is safe. Since you’ve most likely been without power, food will only stay good in a refrigerator for about 24 hours. Beyond that, discard any milk or egg-based goods (like mayonnaise) that have been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours.
If you are in need of a cleanup crew, try using TalkLocal to find local landscapers.
