How to document your hurricane damage

When a hurricane strikes, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed — and confused about where you need to start with your insurance claim.

If your property is damaged due to the high winds and flooding that come along with a hurricane, here’s what you need to do next:

1. Get as many photos as you can.

Photos can become an important part of your insurance claim, and they give you the opportunity to record the immediate aftermath of the hurricane and show the damage in place — before anything gets moved away.

2. Mitigate the potential for more damage.

As a property owner, you have an obligation to mitigate your damage. After a hurricane, that may mean things like covering broken windows with plywood or getting a tarp down over a damaged roof. You may also need to remove any debris that could potentially be a hazard to yourself or others.

3. Don’t discard anything until you have word from the insurance company.

You may eventually need to get a dumpster and discard a lot of damaged items — but don’t do anything like that until you talk to the insurance company. You may have to call in some pros for the major removal process (and that may be covered by your insurance).

4. Start making a list of your damages.

Going from room to room is usually the best way to create an organized list of the destruction. You can make notes of both the damage you see to your structure and the damage to your personal items. This can make filing your insurance claim much easier.

If your insurance company isn’t meeting their obligations after a hurricane, you don’t have to fight back all alone. An experienced attorney can help make sure that you get what you are due.