Steps for Floridians to Keep in Mind After Severe Weather
If you haven’t prepared for severe weather yet, hurricane season is now upon us. It’s not too late to go through our Hurricane Preparedness Guide. By re-reading the Guide, you can:
- take additional steps to secure your home and property
- inventory and purchase missing supplies
- organize important paperwork or documents
With all of your preparation in mind, what’s next? Do you know what to do after the storm clears?
1. Stay Safe
After a big storm like a hurricane, follow this guidance from the Centers for Disease Control to prevent injury and disease:
- Stay out of floodwater and don’t drive in flooded areas.
- Never use a wet electrical device.
- If the power is out, use flashlights instead of candles that can catch fire.
- Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by not using any fuel-burning equipment like a generator.
- Be careful near damaged buildings until local authorities determine they are safe.
- Stay away from power lines and report down power lines to the electric company.
Did you know that you don’t have to live in a flood zone to be at risk for flooding? 25% of flood claims come from moderate- to low-risk flood zones. Your homeowners policy does not cover damage from flooding. Get a free flood insurance quote from Farm Bureau insurance.
2. Record the Damage
As soon as it is safe to do so, grab a video camera or your phone and begin documenting the current state of your home and property. Narrate what you’re filming, describing items and noting damage you come across.
Back in the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, we encouraged you to take photos of the interiors and exterior of your home and store an inventory list of your possessions in the cloud. You can use these photos and list to cross reference what has been lost or damaged when you report your claim. Cross reference what you see with the inventory list you’ve made.
3. Report a Claim
Now that you’re safe and you know what has damage or is missing, it’s time to make a claim with Florida Farm Bureau insurance. You can do this a few different ways.
- Call your agent. Our agents stand ready after storms to provide you with the help you need to get back on your feet as soon as possible. To find your agent’s contact information, use our agent finder.
- Report your claim by calling 1-866-275-7322. This toll free number is available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
- Go online. It may be more convenient for you to report your claim online instead of making a phone call. You can do that by logging in to your Customer Portal or downloading the MOBILE agent app.
4. Keep Your Receipts
During your recovery from the storm, keep the receipts from related expenses like medical, travel, temporary lodging, and the like. Depending on the specifics of your policy, the expenses you incur as a result of storm damage may be covered by your homeowner’s insurance. Make sure to ask your agent about these types of expenses and if they are covered by your policy.
How are You Preparing?
You can’t make a storm damage claim if you aren’t properly insured. Protect yourself and your family with quality insurance coverage (including home, flood, auto, and life) from Florida Farm Bureau insurance. We have faithfully provided this type of coverage for Floridians for over sixty years. Join us by contacting a local agent for a free quote.