Dealing with Severe Weather and Catastrophic Events
Resources for victims of the Joplin tornado on May 22
Resources for victims of the St. Louis tornado on April 22
Insurance Consumer Hotline: 800-726-7390
Missouri has exposure to the risks of tornados, floods and earthquakes. Planning for these catastrophes is one of the most important things a homeowner or business owner can do.
Safeguarding your life is the most important thing you can do, before, during and after a disaster. Here are some tips:
Getting ready:
- If you have not purchased some form of homeowners insurance, you should arrange to do so as soon as possible. A homeowners' or renter's policy is your protection against a devastating loss. DIFP encourages you to talk with the insurance agent or agents of your choice about the options you have in selecting a policy.
- Remember: flood and earthquake damages are not covered by basic homeowners and other residential policies. Earthquake coverage is available in some areas as a special add-on to your homeowners insurance. If you live in an area prone to flooding you will need to buy a federal flood insurance policy through your agent to cover almost any flood damages.
- Review your insurance policy each year to make sure coverage is adequate.
- Prepare a detailed inventory of your household furnishings with photographs of each room in your home. Make a list of other valuables and equipment that don't appear in the photos. Put these materials in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box.
- Have a plan of action. Select a shelter or location. Make a list of important telephone numbers and know how to contact family members. Remember to include your insurance agent and insurance company.
- Check out other resources on the Internet. Missouri's "Ready in 3" program has information available on non-weather disasters.
Assemble emergency supplies:
- Non-electric can opener
- Bottled water (3 gallons per family member)
- Flashlight
- Portable radio
- Extra batteries
- Fire extinguisher
- Essential medication
- First aid kit/first aid book
- Blankets
- Plywood to cover windows
- Canned foods
- Matches or a lighter
- Candles
Suggestions for individuals whose property was damaged by severe weather:
- Take proper safety and health precautions. Check to see if anyone is injured. Call 911 or your local authorities if necessary, and render assistance until help arrives. Be aware of all potential hazards such as broken glass and downed power lines. When it is safe, try not to leave your property unattended. Make sure water is safe to drink and food is not spoiled.
- Contact your agent or insurance company about damage. Keep a record of the time, date, topic and name of the person you talk to every time you call. If you cannot reach your agent or company after a reasonable period of time, considering the damage (downed electric and phone lines, for example, make communication very difficult), contact the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390.
- Your insurance agent or insurance company can tell you whether your policy covers living expenses until repairs are made to your home. For example, many homeowners policies provide for temporary lodging and meal expenses up to 20 percent of the insured value of your home, if they are damaged.
- You should take reasonable steps to protect your property from further loss or damage, or face the prospect that your insurer will reduce or deny your claim. Make temporary repairs and keep receipts for all materials and labor expenses.
- Survey the damage and take pictures if possible.
- Make a list of all personal property destroyed or damaged. Note the approximate date, price and place of purchase and attach any sales receipt you may have. The adjuster will ask you for this information.
- Your insurance company should send its adjuster to your property. Make sure the adjuster has identification. Please remember that insurance companies pay the adjusters and you should not be asked for any payment.
- A "public adjuster" - a person licensed by the state - may offer to represent you in claim negotiations with your insurer. Public adjusters will seek part of your settlement as payment for their services. You are not required to hire a public adjuster to file a claim. Generally speaking, consider hiring a public adjuster only after your insurer makes a settlement offer and when you anticipate any settlement increase obtained by the public adjuster will exceed the extra cost.
How can we help with your claim?
You can call or write to the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration for assistance - but we suggest that you first contact your agent and/or insurance company. We cannot file your claim on your behalf or serve as a public adjuster or attorney.
But we can provide assistance when:
- The agent or company does not respond to your calls (either before or after you file a claim).
- The company denies or does not help arrange for temporary lodging and other assistance specified in the insurance policy.
- The company maintains that the policy does not cover your property damage.
DIFP cannot serve as judge and jury on disputes about facts related to damage. But because we license agents and insurers, we can help resolve many disputes about contract language and state legal requirements on coverage. On average, DIFP helps policyholders collect more than $8 million extra each year in settlements. For policies such as homeowners, four of every 10 complainants gets additional financial relief.