If your home or business was damaged or destroyed due to flooding, United Policyholders’ Roadmap to Recovery^® program will help you on your road to recovery and make good decisions or repairing or rebuilding or replacing your home or business. This section of our library will help you access information and tools for overcoming challenges with property, flood and auto insurance claims and reaching a fair settlement.

In the months ahead, you will have to deal with lots of paperwork and make important financial decisions.  The word most commonly used to describe people’s mind set after a natural disaster is “overwhelmed.”  While insurance payments can’t bring back your cherished mementos, they are critically important to a successful recovery.

At this time, take care of your family’s immediate needs first. UP recommends focusing on photographing and documenting damaged and destroyed property if you can access it, getting a complete current copy of your insurance policy, and finding temporary lodging that is comfortable and safe.  If you are unable to return to your home, you may be able to access insurance funds through your “Additional Living Expense” Coverage.

This library is for property and business owners, policyholder advocates, elected officials and the media. The Library contains tips, articles, bulletins, forms, reports, statistics, links and a wealth of information. Common challenges include disputes over deductibles, depreciation, repair methods and costs, rotating/inexperienced adjusters, scams, flood policy limits, water, and mold damage exclusions/caps.

Here is a partial list of claim tips and resources United Policyholders is offering those affected by flooding.

Key Insurance Claim Tips:

• Focus on completely inventorying and valuing all damage and costs to repair or replace your property, regardless of your insurance situation.

• Keep a diary of conversations with insurance, repair, government, and other professionals.

• Flood policies have different rules than home policies.

• If you did not have flood insurance, there may still be damage that may be covered under your homeowner’s policy, depending on how it is written.  Examples could be wind-driven rain, sewage backup due to electrical failure of a pump or other device, other damage due to power outages or surges.

• Give your home and/or flood insurer a chance to do the right thing, but advocate for yourself and get help from the Department of Insurance and/or experienced professionals if you feel you’re not being treated fairly.

• If a home or flood insurance adjuster says damage isn’t covered, but you feel it should be, get an independent professional opinion before giving up on getting some or all of your claim paid.

UP offers tips, information, sample letters and tools to help each person recover the full amount they’re entitled to and avoid and solve problems during the insurance claim adjustment process.  Our resources draw on the personal and professional expertise of our volunteers and staff, many of whom lost homes in past disasters.  UP does not sell insurance, give legal advice, or represent individuals in claim matters.  Rest assured, our information and resources are designed to help you, the consumer…no catch, no hidden agenda.

Other resources:

You can check if your disaster received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declaration by visiting: www.disasterassistance.gov/get-assistance/address-lookup

This means SBA and FEMA resources will be available. Survivors can apply for federal aid, even if uninsured.  Disaster assistance may be able to fill insurance gaps or provide help if you’ve been waiting more than 30 days on a homeowner’s claim.

Support Resources:

Expert Answers to Your Questions:  The ”Ask an Expert” tool is an easy and safe way to ask direct questions to attorneys, claims professionals and previous disaster survivors who serve as UP volunteers and get the answers you need. The expert doesn’t see your contact info, but you can contact them if you want to follow up on their answer. Please visit the “Ask an Expert” forum here.