It is rare to get hurricane level storms in the Metro Atlanta area, but when the hurricanes travel up the coast or run out of steam in South Georgia, we do see some severe thunderstorm and tornado activity. This weather tends to run from end of summer through the fall. So once the storm passes, what do you do to protect yourself?
Check your property for downed power lines. NO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE OR REPAIR ANY DOWNED LINES! Notify your power company as soon as possible, and make sure no one else can approach the downed lines.
Look at the trees around your home. If any are leaning toward the home or have broken branches that could drop on the home or other property, contact a tree service to take them down. Be aware that these services get a LOT of calls after storms and it may take some time to get a crew out, so you should get on their call list as early as possible.
Board up any broken windows or other holes made in the exterior of the home during the storm. These storms almost always are followed by more rain, and you need to keep the house from getting flooded. This also buys you a little time until you can get real repairs completed since these service providers will also be getting a lot of calls after the storm.
If you have gas coming into your home for any reason, check the gas lines and call for service if you find any damage. DO NOT USE ANY FLAME FOR CANDLES, STOVE, FIREPLACE, ETC. UNTIL YOU ARE SURE THERE IS NO GAS LEAKING IN OR AROUND YOUR HOME! If you suspect any gas leak, be sure to air out the area fully and get the gas company to come repair the line before sleeping in the home or lighting any type of flame.
If you had flooding in your home, do not turn on any electrical items until you know they are not affected by the water. Electricity is very dangerous, but more dangerous when around water. If you are not sure, leave it alone. The safest way to unplug anything that might be electrical in a water damaged area is to turn off the circuit breaker that controls the area before touching anything. Better yet, have a professional check it.
Call ServiceMaster of Gwinnett or ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens as soon as you notice any water damage inside your home. Water can travel into and become trapped in places you might not expect. The water mitigation specialist will evaluate where the water traveled and what damage has occurred. He will extract any standing water, set equipment to dry out not just the surface affected but inside wall cavities and around and under other household surfaces. He can also help speed the drying process by removing affected materials that are trapping moisture in the home. Trapped moisture must be found and removed to prevent mold from growing in hidden areas and causing health issues for occupants. There is a right way and a wrong way to assess and dry out water damage, so it is best left to the professionals.
Call your insurance company as soon as possible to report your damage. The only way to know whether your insurance will cover a loss is to check with an assigned adjuster who knows your policy. He or she can help you understand what is covered, and help you find the best service providers. ServiceMaster of Gwinnett and ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens work with the major insurance companies and can help you navigate the complicated journey through mitigation and repair. We can help you understand what is happening and what to expect.
Keep all your receipts for replacement of damaged items and changes in household expenses during the loss. You do not know what will be covered by insurance during that time, so keep records of everything in case you need to document things later.
Do not discard any damaged personal property until it is documented, and the insurance adjuster approves disposal of it. Many people are quick to dispose of damaged items, but insurance may not cover replacement costs unless you can prove the loss. For example, carpeting may need to be appraised before replacement value can be assigned. Anything that is removed or repaired prior to adjuster approval may not be covered by your policy.
If the damage makes your home unsafe to live in, your insurance policy may provide for accommodations during repairs for a covered loss. This is not true in all cases, but you won’t know until you ask.
Be prepared for situations when you may have damages not covered by insurance. For example, many insurance policies do not cover ground water that seeps under a foundation wall. The service providers mentioned in this article will still be happy to work with you to help recover from the loss, but the financial responsibility will be yours. It’s always a good idea to have money set aside to cover unexpected losses such as this. Also, keep in mind that any loss, even one covered by insurance, will require additional funds to cover the deductible amount. Property damage from storms is never pleasant, but ServiceMaster of Gwinnett or ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens can help you recover from the aggravation and quickly get back to the more enjoyable things in life.
