Winter storms can strike hard and fast, leaving your home damaged and you unsure what to do next. Knowing the right steps can help you protect your property and stay safe.
Your first move should be to ensure your and your family’s safety by getting to a warm, dry place if your home is unsafe. Once you're secure, you can start assessing the damage.
Take photos of any harm to your home to help with insurance claims later. Block off unsafe areas to prevent accidents and call the necessary services if you smell gas or see sparking wires. Quick action can prevent further damage and keep you safe during this tough time.
Assessing and Documenting the Damage
After a winter storm, it's vital to check your home for damage, taking quick action can prevent further issues and help with insurance claims.
Immediate Safety Concerns
Look for downed power lines near your home, ensuring you stay well away, and call the power company immediately. If you smell gas, exit your home and contact the gas company.
Watch out for falling ice or snow from your roof which can cause injury, and be careful on slippery surfaces around your house. You can throw salt or sand on icy areas for traction.
Also, ensure your carbon monoxide detectors work and clear snow from vents to prevent CO buildup. If you are running generators, make sure they’re outside.
Identifying Visible Damage
When assessing exterior damage, your first step should be to walk around your home and look for fallen tree limbs, roof damage, or broken windows. Also, check your gutters and downspouts for ice dams as these can cause water to back up under your roof.
Inside the house, any water stains on ceilings or walls may suggest hidden roof leaks. Frozen pipes can also burst and cause flooding and you need to check for bulging or cracked pipes and ensure water flows from your faucets normally.
Document all damages with detailed notes and clear photos, including close-ups and wide shots to show context. This thorough record will be crucial for your insurance claim.
Making Temporary Repairs
Quick action can prevent further damage to your home after a winter storm. You should focus on stopping water entry and sealing openings until permanent fixes can be made.
Preventing Further Damage
To prevent further damage to your home cover broken windows with plywood or plastic sheeting and use nails or duct tape to secure the covering tightly. Patch any holes in your roof with tarps or plastic sheets, nail them down, and weigh down the edges with wooden boards.
Clear ice dams from gutters to stop water from backing up and use a roof rake to remove snow buildup. This cuts the risk of collapse from heavy snow loads.
Mop up standing water quickly and use fans and dehumidifiers to dry wet areas to stop mold growth and wood rot, moving any wet items to dry areas of the home.
Utilizing Emergency Supplies
Keep a winter storm kit ready which should include:
- Plastic sheeting
- Duct tape
- A staple gun for quick repairs
- Towels and mops to soak up water
- A battery-powered pump to remove standing water
- Flashlights and batteries for power outages
- Warm blankets and sleeping bags
- Shelf-stable food and bottled water
- A battery-powered radio for weather updates
- Sand or kitty litter for traction on icy steps
- A shovel and ice scraper for your car
Navigating the Claims Process
After winter storm damage, filing an insurance claim is crucial as it helps cover repair costs and temporary living expenses.
Contacting Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company immediately to report the damage and have your policy number ready. Explain what happened and ask about the next steps, taking key notes during the call. Be sure to ask about emergency repairs as your insurer may cover these to prevent further damage. During the repair process, you need to keep all receipts so you can be reimbursed.
Find out when an adjuster will visit and ask if you need to complete any forms. Get the claim number for future reference or in case you need to question any of the adjuster’s findings.
Working with an Insurance Adjuster
Prepare for the adjuster's visit by making a list of damaged items and taking photos and videos of the damage. Don't throw anything away until the adjuster sees it.
Walk through your home with the adjuster and point out all damage, ensuring you ask questions if you don't understand something. Remember to get the adjuster's contact information to follow up if you find more damage later, and ask for a copy of their report.
If you disagree with the assessment, you can hire another adjuster for a second opinion who can help negotiate with your insurance company.
Understanding Additional Living Expenses
If your home is unlivable, your policy may cover temporary housing costs which is called Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage. ALE can pay for hotel stays, meals, and other daily costs, and may also cover extra travel expenses or pet boarding.
Keep all receipts for these expenses and ask your insurer what's covered before spending money. There may be limits on how much you can claim. ALE coverage usually lasts until your home is repaired or you find a new place to live so ensure you understand your policy's time limits.
Restoration and Prevention
After a winter storm, fast action to repair damage and prevent future issues is crucial, as proper restoration and preventive measures can help you recover quickly.
Professional Home Repair
Look for licensed contractors with winter storm experience and get quotes from multiple companies before choosing one.
Professionals can tackle issues such as:
- Damaged or missing shingles
- Leaks
- Cracks in walls or foundations caused by freezing
- Remove fallen trees or branches
- Remove snow and ice from gutters to avoid ice dams
- Dry out any wet areas in your home to prevent mold growth.
Mitigating Future Risks
Reduce the chance of winter damage by insulating pipes to prevent freezing and adding extra insulation to your attic and walls. This helps keep heat in and lowers energy bills. Trim trees near your house to prevent branches from falling in storms and clean gutters regularly so water can flow freely.
Install a backup power source like a generator to keep essential systems running during outages, and ensure you have working carbon monoxide detectors on every floor.
Check your roof yearly for weak spots and replace old shingles before they cause leaks, as well as sealing gaps around windows and doors to keep cold air out.
Speak to us today to arrange a full winter assessment of your home to provide peace of mind.
