Winter Storm Preparation & Damage
In 2018, winter storms caused $3 billion in insured losses*. You can prevent unnecessary loss by preparing yourself and your property ahead of time. When the weather report indicates a winter storm is on its way, follow our tips to reduce the risk.
Protect Your Family
The most important thing to do is to make sure that your family is safe. Property can be replaced, but your family cannot. Discuss your plan ahead of time to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Ensure that your vehicle is running properly to guard against getting stranded in dangerous weather. You also want to install winter tires if you drive during inclement weather road conditions. You should also put together a bag of necessities in case you need to leave your home for any reason.
Protect Your Home
If the temperatures are getting to freezing, you want to insulate the pipes. You can also weather-strip the windows and doors to keep the cold weather outside. It’s wise to have some emergency heating equipment on hand in case you lose heat during a storm. You can have a wood-burning stove or electric heater on hand for emergency situations. If you have a fireplace, make sure you have a supply of wood and that the equipment is in good working order. You might also consider having a portable generator in case the power goes out. Furthermore, if you live in a flood-prone location, you want to add insurance for floods because your standard homeowner’s insurance will not protect you.
If You Experience Loss
When the storm is over, it’s time to take inventory of any damage that’s occurred. Before you contact your insurance company, call 1800Adjusters™. We will look over your policy and help you figure out what you are entitled to. The insurance company is only interested in settling for the lowest dollar amount possible. We, on the other hand, put your needs first and will fight for you.
*source: https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-winter-storms