SC Department of Insurance Disaster Assistance Guide

AFTER A DISASTER

The purpose of this guide is to give the homeowners or business owners of South Carolina an idea of what they need to do after a disaster has hit the State.

Protection of life is first and foremost before, during and immediately following a disaster. When re-entry has been cleared by authorities, BE CAREFUL to look for hazards such as downed power lines, broken glass, gas leaks, holes, etc.

NOTIFY YOUR AGENT OF YOUR LOSS

1. You must provide as much detail as possible about damage to your property.

2. Remember to give all work and home telephone numbers where you may be reached. This is especially important if your home is uninhabitable. Your insurance company will need to be able to contact you.

3. People whose homes are not liveable or whose business has been disrupted due to severe structural damage will be given first priority in having their claims handled. Those homes or businesses with less severe structural damage will be given second priority, while those with minor damage will be next, and so on.

TEMPORARY REPAIRS

If you incur losses following a storm, you may need to immediately make temporary repairs to your residence or business.

1. If you need emergency money to help you make temporary repairs, you should contact your insurance agent or company.

2. Remember to keep all bills and receipts.

3. Do not contract for repairs, other than temporary repairs, prior to agreement with the claim adjuster or agent.

4. Do not be rushed into signing repair contracts. It is best to deal with local, reputable contractors. Check each contractor's credentials with your agent or claim adjuster, Chamber of Commerce, and the Better Business Bureau. The Department of Consumer Affairs, Columbia, South Carolina can also be contacted at 1-800-922-1594. Discuss payment terms before you sign any contract.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS AND ITS CONTENTS

1. First, find out the insurance company's preference for temporary repairs.

2. Board up windows and holes in the walls or roof and either cover furnishings or store them elsewhere.

3. Plywood and heavy-duty plastic, available from lumberyards and building supply firms, are useful in making temporary repairs.

4. If there is a lot of water in your home or business, try to get it out and leave the home or business well ventilated to allow for drying. Slightly raise your windows and crack your doors.

5. Clean and dry furniture, bedding, rugs and carpet as soon as possible.

6. To prevent rust on metal objects (such as appliances and drapery rods), first dry, then rub or spray with oil.

7. Dry, but don't oil, radios, TV sets and other electrical equipment. If it is electrical and has been exposed to water, have it professionally serviced before you use it.

8. Remove small valuables (such as jewelry and silverware) to a safe place.

KNOW YOUR ADJUSTER

You must keep a record of the adjuster handling your claim. Get a name, telephone number, social security number, drivers license number and the company represented. If you have any questions or problems regarding the handling of your claim, contact the company, however, if additional assistance is needed, then contact the South Carolina Department of Insurance at (803) 737-6180 or 1-800-768-3467.

PREPARE FOR THE ADJUSTER'S VISIT

1. Personal Property

The claim process may begin in one of two ways. Your insurance company may send you a claim form, known as a "proof of loss form," to complete. Or an adjuster may visit your home or business, before you are asked to fill out any forms. (An adjuster is a person authorized by the State and who is professionally trained to assess the damage.) In either case, the more information you have about your damaged possessions - a description of the item, date of purchase and what it would cost to replace or repair - the faster your claim generally can be settled.

2. Make A List Of The Damaged Items

If possible, take photographs of the damage, and put together a set of records - old receipts, bills and photographs - to help establish the price and age of everything that needs to be replaced or repaired. Write down brand names and model numbers of appliances and electronic equipment. Do not forget to list items such as clothing, sports equipment, tools, china and linens, outside furniture, holiday decorations, business equipment and hobby materials. Do not throw out damaged furniture and other expensive items as the adjuster will want to see them.

If your property was destroyed or you no longer have any records, you will have to work from memory. Try to picture the contents of every room and then write a description of what was there. Try also to remember where and when you bought each piece and about how much you paid. It may also speed up the settlement of your claim if you find out how much it will cost to replace the destroyed items.

3. Building Damage

Identify the structural damage to your home and other buildings on your premises, like a garage, toolshed or in-ground swimming pool. Make a list of everything you would like to show the adjuster when he or she arrives - for example, cracks in the walls, damage to the floor or ceiling and missing roof tiles. If structural damage is likely even though you can't see any signs of it, discuss this with your adjuster. In some cases, the adjuster may recommend hiring a licensed engineer or architect to inspect the property. You should also get the electrical system checked. Most insurance companies pay for such inspections.

If possible, get written bids from reliable, licensed contractors on the repair work. The bids should include details of the materials to be used and prices on a line-by-line basis. This makes adjusting the claim faster and simpler.

Give yourself several days before the adjuster arrives to complete your list. It will take time to assess the damage. Although you can always notify the adjuster of any additional items you overlooked, this may delay the settlement of your claim. Be sure to keep copies of the list and other documents you submit to your insurance company. Also keep copies of whatever paperwork your insurance company gives you.

FLOOD INSURANCE

Homeowners or business owners insurance policies generally do not cover flood damage. You need a separate flood insurance policy. If you have flood insurance through the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program - available through most insurance agents - your claim adjuster may coordinate claims for flood damage with other damage claims. National Flood Insurance Program's toll free number is 1-800-638-6620.

POLICY APPRAISAL PROVISION DISPUTED DAMAGE CLAIMS

If a homeowner or business owner does not agree with the insurance company on the amount of damages to the claim, the following suggested procedure should be followed.

If the dispute results over damages to the building structure, the homeowner or business owner should have their contractor or repairer review, with the insurance adjuster, each item of the estimate of repairs. Generally, itemized estimates help to narrow areas of disagreements. Those items disputed should be separately identified. If the disputed item(s) cannot be resolved, then either the homeowner or business owner or the insurance company representative, under the policy contract, can request that the appraisal provision of the policy be invoked. When this occurs, the homeowner or business owner will select an appraiser (contractor or repairer) and the insurance company will select an appraiser./p>

Before the two appraisers discuss the disputed areas of the estimate, they need to select an umpire (someone both sides agree on to hear the dispute). After selection of the umpire, the two appraisers will get together and try to resolve the area(s) disputed. If the two appraisers cannot reach an agreement, they will submit their appraisal differences to the umpire. The umpire will then review each estimate of damages and agree with the party whose estimate more accurately reflects the damages incurred.

If the dispute involves the amount of damages to content items of the home/business, then the same appraisal procedure, as described above in the structural damage dispute, may be used.

If during this process you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the South Carolina Department of Insurance for assistance.
1-800-768-3467
803-737-6180