With or without insurance, residents must prepare for hurricane season
by admin on Jun.30, 2010, under Home insurance
Insurance officials encouraged homeowners to maintain a detailed inventory of property in preparation for Hurricane Alex, while pushing uninsured residents to shop around for much-needed disaster protection.
Jerry Hagins, public information officer for the Texas Department of Insurance, also stressed the addition of flood coverage since most policies exclude such protection.
“Prepare for the worst but hope for the best,” Hagins said Monday.
Without much time before the season’s first storm, Hagins urged homeowners to review their insurance policy.
They need to familiarize themselves with what their insurance company explicitly covers and how their claims process works, he said.
“Many times people aren’t aware of their policy limits,” Hagins said. “If there are any questions, call your agents now before a potential volume in calls. It’s best to know before the event.”
After reviewing their policy, homeowners should keep it in a safe place that isn’t in danger of blowing or washing away, he said.
Echoing Hagins, Alex Winslow, executive director for the consumer and insurance protection group Texas Watch, said homeowners should also keep a meticulous inventory of personal belongings and the state of their property.
“Walk through your house with a video camera showing electronics, serial numbers and brands,” Winslow suggested. “Take stock even of the furniture chest you got from your grandmother.”
Both said residents can avoid delays in the claims process if they keep such an inventory and insurance policy nearby at all times once a disaster hits.
For those without insurance, Winslow and Hagins said it is not too late to start preparing for the future.
“In this day and age, one can’t go without insurance,” Hagins said. “It’s a fact of modern life…but all the preparations folks make for the storm today will prepare for the next few months.”
While most policies take 30 days until coverage begins, both officials recommended HelpInsure.com, a state-run website helping new customers find rates to match their unique needs.
Even renters should take out insurance, Hagins said, since an apartment building’s policy covers the building but not personal property.
Insured homeowners should also avoid assuming their policy covers flood damage, Hagins said. He suggested purchasing extra coverage through an insurance company or a third-party like the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program.
The program is currently in hiatus because Congress did not reauthorize it, but the NFIP website (www.fema.gov/business/nfip/) offers advice on what to do during its hiatus.
After a hurricane hits, Winslow said policy holders should log every interaction they have with their insurance company, including scheduled appointments and when adjusters say they will arrive.
Most importantly, Winslow advised insured homeowners to avoid signing any document they do not understand.
“If you get a small settlement, (the insurance company) may ask you to sign a document waiving any right to a future claim,” he said. “Don’t feel like you have to sign anything, and if you feel you have to seek legal advice, do it.”
Winslow’s group at TexasWatch.org provides inventory and preparation checklists to ready homeowners in advance of Hurricane Alex and the long storm season
Neal Morton covers Mission and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956)683-4472.
From the editor: Many of you have expressed concerns about some of the harsh anonymous comments from readers. To remedy that, we are introducing new features. You can create your own blog, publish your news and share your photos with the community. Once you fill out a simple form and leave a verifiable e-mail address, you can set up your profile page. It will display all of your contributions and allow you to track issues and easily connect with others.
We want our site to be a place where people discuss and debate ideas that foster stronger communities. We built this for you. Please take care of it. Tolerate broad thinking, but take action against obscene or hateful material. Make it a credible and safe place worth preserving and sharing.
Source:
