8 steps to recover your losses after a disaster
While it’s probably the last thing on your mind while you’re still in the wake of a natural disaster, ensuring your losses are recovered is of the upmost importance.
When Mother Nature strikes it’s important to be on the front foot. Follow these simple steps to recovering your losses after a natural disaster and you can make the recovery process as seamless as possible, ensuring you will be back on your feet in no time.
1. Collect any evidence of your possessions
Even at the best of times the claims process can become quite a strenuous one, so if you have any pictures, videos or documents you can use to help prove ownership of your possessions, then it’s important to collect these as soon as possible.
2. Return to your property to survey the damage
If the disaster forced you out of your home it’s in your best interest to return as soon as the emergency services have declared it safe to do so. That being said, you should only ever enter the property if you’re certain you’re not at risk.
3. Contact your insurance company
It’s important to do this as soon as possible as well, as odds are you won’t be the only person trying to get in touch with your insurer. Your insurance company can provide valuable information regarding what your policy includes and excludes, as well as what you need to do to get the wheels rolling on the whole claims process.
4. Start cleaning up around your home
Now it’s time to start cleaning, but as you do so be sure to take pictures or videos of any damaged items or damage to the property. It’s a good idea to make an inventory of this as you do so and try to be specific as possible, noting brands, models and serial numbers.
5. Remove certain goods
Any items that have been damaged that pose a health risk (for instant water or mud-damaged goods) must be removed as soon as possible.
6. If necessary request emergency repairs
That being said, emergency repairs should only really be undertaken if there’s a risk to your own or neighbouring properties. It’s important to be aware of the fact that unauthorised repairs may significantly complicate the claims process.
7. Store items
If there are items that have been damaged or destroyed in the disaster, store them somewhere safe for the time being as they may assist with your claim.
8. If you can’t find your insurance papers
If you can’t find your insurance papers or they’ve been damaged in the disaster, don’t worry as your insurer will have their own electronic records on hand.
Have you ever had to face a natural disaster? How did you find the claims process? Were you able to recover all your possessions?
Share your story in the comments.
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