Are You Insured Against Natural Disasters?

In a period of extreme climate change and unpredictable weather, a good question to ask is, are you insured against natural disasters? Why bother, you say? Well, if you’ve been hiding under a rock, you should know that earthquakes, lightning, tornadoes, hail, and even wildfire can affect anyone these days. Anyone, I tell you. Whatever these “acts of God” may be, it is definitely a stressful and overwhelming experience.

So, is your home insured against these natural disasters? A lot, if not all, home insurance policies these days automatically cover damage caused by these unpredictable events. However, last time I checked, no insurer will cover damage caused by flooding and landslides because these phenomena are relatively predictable.  High flood and landslide risk areas are known and listed by municipal, provincial and federal governments.

Now, if your home is indeed insured, then what you should know is how to file the claim. Here are some questions you need to ask yourself prior to calling your insurance adjuster:

Where is the damaged property?
How extensive is the damage?
Are temporary repairs needed?
If the authorities were contacted, which department responded and what is the report number?
Your current contact information and the best time to reach you?

A rule of thumb: safety first. Once you are safe enough to be able to contact your insurance adjuster, be prepared to provide as much detail as possible about the damage. You may even take photographs and videos of your property if possible. Having all the facts ready can help expedite the claims process. Another advice we can give you is to keep important documents such as serial numbers, owner’s manuals, and credit card statements in a safe place. Later on, who knows, maybe they can also be used to help in the claims process.

Before having repairs done, be sure that the insurance adjuster has already assessed the damage to your home. However, it will most likely be difficult to schedule repairs after a natural disaster so do hire someone who can work on the assessment process really fast but still very effectively.