Tornados and Bad Weather

Proper Insurance May Be WI Residents Best Defense Against Tornados and Bad Weather

MADISON, WI (April 1, 2012) – According to the National Weather Service, Wisconsin experienced 38 tornados last year, including the devastating April 10 twister outbreak of fifteen confirmed tornados. And, while Wisconsin has been spared so far this year, the National Weather Service reports that there have been 306 reports of tornadoes through the first 70 days of 2012, more than twice the average. It is estimated that the losses from the tornadoes that struck the Midwest and South during late February and early March are between $1 billion and $2 billion.

“Move to an underground shelter, basement or safe room”, says Von Haden. “If that is not possible, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.” Note: mobile homes are not safe and it is a good idea to drive to the nearest shelter before the storm hits.

A second piece of advice is to conduct a home inventory before disaster strikes. “Use your camera phone or video recorder to document the rooms and items in your house,” says Von Haden. “Once you have that documentation, store it off-site. That documentation can be absolutely critical if your home and contents are damaged or destroyed by a tornado.”

Should tragedy strike, take the following steps:

•Family Protection - Once you are assured that all family members are unharmed or have been taken to the appropriate care giver; contact your local insurance agent and give them an idea of the damage. Standard homeowners and auto policies cover storm and wind damage.
•Documentation – Take detailed photos of the damage to your home, contents and vehicles, and give copies to your insurance agent.
•Don’t Conduct Cleanup Before the Adjuster Arrives – Insurance companies will send an adjuster to survey the damage to your home and vehicles before determining the total damage. While it may be tempting to start the cleanup, don’t do anything until after the adjuster has seen the damage…unless you need to make repairs. If your roof or other area is damaged and water or wind could enter the building, you can and should make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Most insurance companies will have emergency response teams or local adjusters available to survey the damage quickly after a storm or other tragedy.
•Additional Costs - If you have to stay in a hotel or eat at restaurants while your house is under repair, keep those receipts as the insurance company will typically reimburse you.
•Quotes: If your home will need extensive repairs, talk only with legitimate contractors and obtain quotes. After a storm, hustlers frequently canvass areas promising speedy repair work…but they often take your deposit and are never seen again. While it’s easy to panic in the wake of a storm, only work with contractors who can provide references.
•Timeliness: If your claim seems to be taking a long time, contact your local, professional insurance agent and have him/her contact the insurance company. They can find out what is causing the delay and escalate your claim as needed. “This is one of the times when having a local, professional independent agent is crucial,” said Von Haden.