Louisiana insurance commissioner recommends these steps if your property was damaged by a hurricane
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Updated: 7:25 PM CDT May 31, 2024
GENTILLY A METEOROLOGIST, ERIC SIBLEY, WDSU NEWS. AND NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO LOOK OVER YOUR INSURANCE DOCUMENTS. KNOW WHAT YOUR COVERAGE LOOKS LIKE AND MAKE LAST MINUTE CHANGES IF NECESSARY. HERE’S WDSU ANCHOR SULA KIM WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO MINIMIZE YOUR RISK AND TO BETTER INSURE YOUR PROPERTIES. IF IT’S NOT A HURRICANE, CORRECT. ELIZABETH IS REVIEWING HER INSURANCE POLICY AHEAD OF ANY POTENTIAL THREAT THIS HURRICANE SEASON. SHE’S GOING OVER DETAILS WITH HER INSURANCE AGENT, LEE MILLER, SO SHE UNDERSTANDS HER COVERAGE IN DETAIL. SO I HAVE A PHYSICAL COPY WITH ME NOW. UM, AND, AND I HAVE TALKED TO HIM A LOT. HE WAS A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATION. ON WHAT TYPE OF DEDUCTIBLE TO GET AND HOW TO PREPARE FOR THAT. MILLER SAYS FIRST, MAKE SURE YOU CAN AFFORD YOUR DEDUCTIBLE, WHICH IS USUALLY 2 TO 5% OF YOUR PROPERTY VALUE. SO YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOUR DEDUCTIBLE IS. CAN YOU AFFORD IT? SHOULD YOU BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT? THE PROBLEM WITH DEDUCTIBLES ARE YOU CAN ONLY RAISE THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF A POLICY TERM. YOU CANNOT LOWER THEM. SECOND, MAKE SURE YOUR POLICY COVERS YOUR HOME AT REPLACEMENT COST, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION IF YOU HAVE TO REBUILD THE VALUE OF YOUR HOUSE MAY HAVE INCREASED SINCE YOU BOUGHT IT, AND EVEN THE COST OF LUMBER AND MATERIALS HAS GONE UP. AND IT’S NOT THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR YOUR HOME, IT’S THE AMOUNT IT WOULD TAKE TO REBUILD YOUR HOME. SO IT’S A BIG DIFFERENCE. AND PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THAT. THIRD, HE ENCOURAGES YOU TO GET FLOOD INSURANCE IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT ALREADY. THERE IS A 30 DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE A FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY TAKES EFFECT. SO NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOP AND GATHER YOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND BANKING INFORMATION AND KEEP THEM IN WATERPROOF CONTAINERS OR BAGS OR SAVE DIGITAL COPIES. AND WHILE YOU’RE GETTING YOUR DOCUMENTS READY, DON’T FORGET TO TIDY UP OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE. EXPERTS ADVISE YOU TO CLEAN THOSE CATCH BASINS, REMOVE DEBRIS AND TRIM THOSE TREE BRANCHES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY’RE HANGING TOO CLOSE TO THE ROOF. AND REMEMBER, TAKE INVENTORY OF YOUR HOUSE INSIDE AND OUT. TAKE PHOTOS BEFORE THE STORM AND AFTER. IF THERE’S DAMAGE, TAKE PICTURES. VIDEO OF THE INTERIOR OF YOUR HOME. YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A TOTAL LOSS. IT’S A LOT EASIER TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU LOST. IF YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF DIGITAL IMAGE OF IT. FOR ELIZABETH, BEING PREPARED GIVES HER A PEACE OF MIND, SHE SAYS. LIVING IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA HAS ITS RISKS. WITH HURRICANE SEASON EACH YEAR, BUT SHE WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. NO, I WOULDN’T I WOULDN’
Louisiana insurance commissioner recommends these steps if your property was damaged by a hurricane
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Updated: 7:25 PM CDT May 31, 2024
Hurricane Season is quickly approaching, and the 2024 season is expected to be extremely active. The Louisiana Department of Insurance encourages you to promptly contact your agent or insurance company if your home gets damaged by a storm this year. Most policies require property owners to protect their property from further damage after a storm – so you may need to make temporary repairs. Keep the receipts for any repairs. Your insurance policy may have a provision for reimbursement or counting money spent towards your deductible. Other steps to take include:Take pictures or videos of the damage, both to your home and the contents.Make sure that your agent and insurance company have your correct contact information if you had to evacuate or are unable to receive information at your home.Attempt to separate damaged personal property items from undamaged items, but do not throw them away. Keeping these items will help the claims adjuster better assist you in completing an inventory of the items lost.For Vehicle Owners Affected by Storm Damage If you have comprehensive coverage through your vehicle policy, you should be covered for damage. Review your policy or contact your agent to determine the type of coverage you have. Click here for tips.For Renters Affected by Storm DamageIf you have renter’s insurance, storm damage is a covered peril. Your personal property damaged by the storm will be covered according to your policy limits. You will have to pay a deductible before your losses will be paid out, however. Renter’s insurance may also include coverage for additional living expenses if you are unable to occupy your rented house or apartment due to storm damage. The coverage may help pay for additional costs you incur such as hotel bills. Important to know, however, is that if your landlord has insurance on the property, it typically will not cover tenants.Click here for quick facts on tornado damage.
Hurricane Season is quickly approaching, and the 2024 season is expected to be extremely active.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance encourages you to promptly contact your agent or insurance company if your home gets damaged by a storm this year.
Most policies require property owners to protect their property from further damage after a storm – so you may need to make temporary repairs. Keep the receipts for any repairs. Your insurance policy may have a provision for reimbursement or counting money spent towards your deductible.
Other steps to take include:
- Take pictures or videos of the damage, both to your home and the contents.
- Make sure that your agent and insurance company have your correct contact information if you had to evacuate or are unable to receive information at your home.
- Attempt to separate damaged personal property items from undamaged items, but do not throw them away. Keeping these items will help the claims adjuster better assist you in completing an inventory of the items lost.
For Vehicle Owners Affected by Storm Damage
If you have comprehensive coverage through your vehicle policy, you should be covered for damage. Review your policy or contact your agent to determine the type of coverage you have. Click here for tips.
For Renters Affected by Storm Damage
If you have renter’s insurance, storm damage is a covered peril. Your personal property damaged by the storm will be covered according to your policy limits. You will have to pay a deductible before your losses will be paid out, however. Renter’s insurance may also include coverage for additional living expenses if you are unable to occupy your rented house or apartment due to storm damage. The coverage may help pay for additional costs you incur such as hotel bills. Important to know, however, is that if your landlord has insurance on the property, it typically will not cover tenants.
Click here for quick facts on tornado damage.
