Credit: NOAA/NASA GOES Project
1. Take care of yourself and loved ones
People caught in disasters experience great mental and physical stress, and grief reactions. Therefore, it is important to take good care of yourself and your loved ones. Make sure you get sufficient rest, eat well and stay physically active. Prioritize what needs to be taken care immediately and postpone less important activities.
Get emotional support from your family members and friends. You can also join a local faith- or community-based support group. If your feelings of distress continue and you are unable to get through your daily errands, consider reaching out for some qualified professionals such as a licensed psychologist.
2. Notify your insurance and mortgage companies
Contact your insurance company as early as possible to get your claim started. Homeowner insurance policies deal with water damage in different ways depending on sources of flooding such as leaking pipes, sewer backup, or flooding. If you reside in some flood prone areas, your insurance policy may include a special flood protection (NFIP) which is backed by the U.S. government.
If you are not clear what your insurance policy covers, it may be worth of consulting experienced insurance claim attorneys. Most law firms and insurance litigation lawyers will provide victims of disasters with a legal consultation free of charge. This may help you understand better your insurance policy and equip you for working with the insurance company on your claim.
When your claim is approved you should be also covered for the cost of temporary housing and other living expenses while your house is being repaired or rebuilt.
Keep track of all receipts related to your living expenses and house repairs, list of lost household items and all legal documents. Your insurance company might request you to produce them for your claim later.
Also, notify your mortgage lender about the consequences of the disaster and keep them up-to-date about your insurance claim status.
3. Apply for government assistance
In natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can help in various ways. Firstly, FEMA can assist with rental expenses up to two months. Also, FEMA can financially assist you with some home repairs including replacing a water heater or furnace. Also, FEMA can assist you with replacing some of your lost essential personal property such as a primary vehicle, eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc. Furthermore, you can receive a disaster unemployment assistance if you lost your job because your company or employer was affected by flood.
The maximum amount that you can receive from FEMA is $33,000 and it depends upon the scope of damage and the amount of insurance coverage available to you.
You can apply by phone or online within first 60 days from the date of Hurricane Harvey. When applying, please have your Social Security number and a letter from your insurance company describing what you are covered for and what not for flood damages. You will be also given an option to apply for a low interest loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) offered to homeowners, tenants and entrepreneurs.
Click here for details or register for FEMA assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov / call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
Credit: Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Martinez
4. Get your home cleaned up and dried out
Return to your home only when authorities have been given you the green light to enter the area. Firstly, if the house is not a total loss, you will need to complete a cleaning in your place as early as possible to remove all the spoiled stuff and dry everything out. The cleaning includes removing standing water and mud, tearing out damaged drywall, insulation and frames, and disinfection.
If you need help, you can find professionals in the Yellow Pages. Ensure that everything is dry and all the mold has been removed before you start workin on house restoration.
During the cleaning, you may be able to retrieve some of the important items such as ID’s, medications, eyeglasses, credit cards, cheque books, insurance policies, cash, jewellery, and things of sentimental value.
5. Hire reputable contractor
Next, it is crucial to find the trustworthy contractor to complete the work properly. Avoid scams and the dishonest contractors by conducting a thorough research and checking the local professional associations, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and other external sources.
Make sure your potential contractor has a state license and is a local established business with a valid physical office . Get at least three quotes from different contractors and request a minimum of three verified references from each one before signing a contract with anyone. Make sure that the proposed offer is not too low or too high in comparison to other bids and the contractor carries an adequate liability insurance.