No one expects their home to end up in the path of a tornado. But with an average of 1,200 tornadoes blowing across the US annually, the odds are higher than most people think. Once the dust settles and you have a chance to review the damage, you may quickly discover that you’ll be displaced from your home for a while. Follow these six steps to help pick up the pieces after a tornado hits your house.
Step 1: Prioritize Your Health & Safety
Yes, taking swift and decisive action is important, but ensuring that you, your family, and your pets receive medical attention is the first and most critical step after a tornado. Once you account for your loved ones and make sure everyone’s all right, keep it that way by not reentering your home until the authorities give the all-clear. This may take days or weeks, depending on the damage to power lines, gas pipes, and other neighborhood infrastructure. In the meantime, begin the early steps of the recovery process.
Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Company
In the aftermath of a natural disaster, insurance companies are often inundated with claims. This means the faster you contact your insurer, the sooner you can file your claim, and the more likely you’ll receive a prompt payout.
If you have a trusted insurance agent, contact this professional for one-on-one attention. Otherwise, call your insurer directly. Convey the fact that your house has been hit by a tornado and that you’d like to submit a claim. Feel free to ask questions and learn more about the process and timeline for receiving your payout. Write down the names and contact information of any representatives you speak with, and log your conversations for your records.
Step 3: Assess the Damage
The tornado that ripped through your neighborhood may not have leveled your house to the ground, but the damage may be extensive enough to render it uninhabitable for a time. Thankfully, you and your family should be able to move back in when repairs are complete.
The first time you visit your house after a tornado, photograph or video record evidence of the destruction to back up your insurance claim. Here are some common examples of damage you may encounter:
- Holes in the roof and siding
- Broken windows
- Water-damaged interior
- Toppled walls
- Broken pipes
- Damaged electrical system
- Uprooted trees
- Collapsed fencing
- Destroyed belongings
Step 4: Arrange Emergency Repairs
If your home has been completely destroyed and you plan to rebuild or relocate, skip this step. Otherwise, act quickly to secure your home against further damage. This may include boarding up broken windows and tarping holes in the roof to keep out water, animals, and looters. You may also want to address leaky pipes, exposed electrical wires, broken gas pipes, and other hazards.
Don’t make long-term repairs just yet—it’s best to wait until you hear back from your insurance company first about how they plan to proceed with your claim. Still, hold onto any receipts and records of emergency repairs you make for reimbursement when the time comes. Remember, you may also be entitled to compensation for temporary accommodations, food, transportation, and other expenses brought on by the tornado damage.
Step 5: Work with Your Claims Adjuster
Once you alert your insurance company that your house has been in a tornado, they’ll send a claims adjuster to assess the damage for themselves. At this point, your insurance company may ask you to provide a Proof of Loss statement outlining all the items that have been damaged or destroyed. The best way to organize your thoughts is to create a digital document where you can easily add things as they come to mind. Take your time listing out your lost belongings to ensure you don’t forget anything.
If at any point you feel that the response from your insurance company doesn’t align with your coverage, contact your insurance agent or an attorney to help protect your rights. Then, strive to maintain a professional, cooperative attitude to promote the smoothest process possible.
Step 6: Hire a Restoration Company
The repair process could take months or years, depending on the extent of the damage to your home and the surrounding properties, so it’s important to begin as soon as possible. Your insurance company may recommend a restoration company in your area, but you have the right to select any contractor you wish. If you go this route, be sure to research companies thoroughly to prevent being taken advantage of after surviving a natural disaster.
Your restoration company will assess the damage, suggest recovery methods, and provide an estimate. Many contractors will even work with your insurance company, submitting project estimates, filing a claim on your behalf, and advocating to get you the payout you deserve.
Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Depending on your insurance coverage and the damage your home sustained in the tornado, you may need a cash-out refinance, which allows you to borrow money against the equity in your home to help pay for repairs. On the other hand, it may be in your best interest to buy a new home rather than repair your damaged one.
Either way, Financial Concepts Mortgage has you covered. As Oklahoma’s premier private mortgage lender, we’re confident we have a home loan that will work for you. Our experienced loan officers can walk you through the various mortgage options and answer any questions you have. When you’re ready to get started, please fill out your application online or call us at (405) 722-5626 to apply over the phone.