— Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler advises consumers to assess their property damage after last night’s severe wind storm and take steps to mitigate any further damage, if possible.
“Now that the winds have died down, survey your property and determine the extent of damage you’ve suffered, if any,” said Kreidler. “Before you file a claim, check your policy to see what’s covered and the amount of your deductible. If you don’t have substantial damage, you may want to make the repairs yourself. But if you have substantial damage, contact your agent or company as soon as possible.”
Damage caused by high winds is covered under a typical homeowners policy. However, if you had any flooding, you must have a flood insurance policy in order to be covered.
If you have questions about what damage is covered, contact your agent or insurance company as soon as possible. Some companies dispatched emergency response teams to Washington in advance of last night’s storm.
Most auto damage from last night’s storm would fall under your comprehensive auto coverage. Unfortunately, if you only have a liability policy on your auto, damage would not be covered.
“When you’re assessing the damage from the storm, be sure to take pictures or even a video,” said Kreidler. “Next, you should take whatever easy steps you can to mitigate further damage. If you do not receive a response from your insurance company, or if you have dispute over your claim, contact our Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900.”
