Every spring we expect some pretty major storms to head our way as our temperatures start to change. But what happens when that weather turns dangerous? You take shelter. You wait for the storm to pass and only after do you access the damage. Depending on the degree of severity of the weather, there could be a ton of of damage and dangers all around you. Let's chat about what you should do after the storm...
First and foremost, make sure all members of your household, including pets are accounted for and safe. If you home is no longer safe, find a safe location to go to/meet at. If there are medical emergencies, if you smell gas or electrical lines are down, dial 911 right away.
If everyone is safe and there are no life threatening emergencies around you, here are a few things you can do after the storm.
Contact your insurance company to start a claim if damage dictates you need to.
If possible, photograph or video damages and of any items you may need to discard.
Try to stop further damage from happening by putting up tarps over damaged roofing or siding holes, boarding up broken windows, etc. if you can safely do so.
Contact qualified, licensed and insured contractors to start the estimate process.
Remove or dry up any water as best you can without entering a flooded area that might be subject to electrical charge.
Locate and secure medications and essential items.
If there is a power loss, keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible to prevent spoilage.
Seek alternate living arrangements if the damage is to extensive to stay in your home. For example, fire damage, sever smoke damage, structural instability, areas of water damage in essential living areas.
Keep a record of all expenses incurred because of the storm.
There are some additional tips to keep in mind:
Beware of contractors who demand complete payment up front before starting work.
Beware of unlicensed and uninsured contractors.
Read and fully understand anything you are asked to sign.
If a contractor offers to facilitate the claim process for you, verify the contractor is a licensed public public adjuster in your state.
Beware of providing personal information to anyone you haven't researched.