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Flood Insurance: How to File a Claim
Everyone is at risk of flooding. By choosing to purchase flood insurance, you can't lose. In fact, floods are often caused by storms, melting snow, hurricanes and water backup due to inadequate or overloaded drainage systems, dam or levee failure. And your homeowners insurance doesn't cover costly flood damage.
How to File a Claim
I've been flooded, so what do I do now? Contact your insurance company or agent immediately. They will assign a claims adjuster to help you evaluate your loss and inform you of the steps you need to take to file your claim.
If major catastrophic flooding occurs, it may take longer to process claims and make payments because of the sheer number of claims submitted.
Let’s take a closer look at the claims process and what you can do to help speed the process along.
Itemizing your possessions:
1. Before flooding occurs, create a "flood file" (a detailed list) of all your possessions. Document possessions within your home or business with a thorough, room-by-room inventory. Describe each item and include serial numbers, model numbers, date of purchase and receipts. Itemize everything—from sofas, chairs and rugs to pictures, plants and contents of drawers and cupboards.
2. Take photos or video to document your possessions and include them in your "flood file" with your itemized list.
3. Safely store your "flood file" (flood insurance policy, itemized list, receipts, video, etc.) in a place secure from loss away from the property you're insuring; typically in a safe deposit box.
Contacting your agent or insurance company:
1. If you've been flooded, contact your agent or insurance company immediately. Have the following ready:
- The name of your insurance company
- Your policy number
- A telephone and/or email address where you can be reached
2. Let your agent know where you can be reached at all times. If you're in a shelter or cannot be easily reached, provide your agent with a trusted point-of-contact (friend, relative) who can reach you if necessary
Making a claim
After you have contacted your agent:
1. Separate damaged from undamaged items. Do not throw out damaged property before your adjuster has seen it, unless it may be a health hazard or could impede local cleanup. If objects must be discarded, take photos and keep samples (fabric swatches, pieces of furniture, etc.) to help substantiate your claim.
2. Review your policy. Flood insurance covers buildings and/or contents for residential and non-residential properties. It’s important to know what your policy covers.
To claim personal property loss you must have contents coverage. Use this list for general guidance:
What's covered:
- The insured building
- Built-in appliances and central air
- Permanently installed paneling, wallpaper, cabinets and carpets
- Garage (up to 10 percent of total building coverage)
- Limited coverage for basements
- Debris removal
- Contents, if contents coverage has been purchased
What's not covered:
- Vehicles
- Decks
- Land and fences
- Plants
- Animals
- Currency
- Boats
- Swimming pools
3. Take photos of standing water, both outside and inside your home or business. Photograph and videotape everything—from structural damage and flood water levels on building exteriors to building interiors and contents—to help prepare documentation of what the flooding damaged.
4. Make a list of all damaged or lost items. Work with your adjuster to itemize your claim and calculate the value of the items destroyed by applying your detailed inventory against your damaged or lost property.
5. Obtain a repair estimate from your adjuster. You should both come to an agreement about the scope of damage—determine what needs to be repaired or replaced.
6. File a Proof of Loss within 60 days of the flood. This sworn statement, made by you, is the valuation of claimed damages. It substantiates the insurance claim and is required before the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or Write-Your-Own Program can make payment. Your adjuster should provide the form for you. However, it is your responsibility to provide your insurance company with a signed Proof of Loss within 60-days of the date of loss.
7. Understand the process. Ask detailed questions and manage your claim so that you receive your insurance benefits in a timely manner.
8. If an adjuster has not been assigned to you within a few days of your phone call, contact your insurance agent or company again.
And remember: to stay covered, you must renew your policy each year.
Go to the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program ( http://www.floodsmart.gov ) for more information and resources.
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