We got flooded! What now?

Floods are catastrophic. Everyone expects wind damage from hurricanes, but the storm surge is truly devastating. Flood losses affect homes, belongings, vehicles, electronics and files. The large loss makes it truly complicated to navigate while trying to process the loss emotionally.

What to do first?

1: Always make sure that you and your family are safe first.

2: Do NOT attempt to return until the flood waters have receded and the authorities have cleared the area.

3: Note that the water is heavily contaminated and do not attempt to mitigate or document without proper safety precautions.

4: File a claim with your flood policy. If you do not have a flood policy, contact FEMA. Regardless, start a file in the cloud or paper. This file is where you want your emails, photos, receipts and invoices for easy access.

5: Documentation. You have duties after a loss. your adjuster or agent should be able to explain these in detail. If not, a Public Adjuster or Attorney can help you determine what they are. Typically you will want to photograph the loss. However, if the area is contaminated, you can rely on professionals to handle that for you.

6. Mitigation. be wary of out-of-state contractors who are coming in to gut your house. Make sure any contractors soliciting are licensed in Florida. This is especially true with mold remediation. If mold is visible, a licensed mold remediation contractor is required.

What if my flood claim is denied or underpaid? You have options.

1) If part or all of your claim has been denied, you can talk to your adjuster or insurer to request additional payment.

2) You can file a flood insurance appeal directly to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal agency that oversees the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). You must submit a denial witing 60 days of the denial letter, appealing what the insurance company denied in the letter. To do this, address the following requirements and send them to

FEMA-NFIP-Appeals@fema.dhs.gov

▪ Explain the issue(s) in writing and include the name of the policyholder(s), insured property address, the flood insurance policy

number, and contact phone or email information;

▪ Include a full copy of the insurer’s written denial; and

▪ Provide documents that prove the claim, for example: photographs of the denied items at issue in the

appeal, contractor-signed repair estimates, proof of repairs, a properly completed drying log, or any other

documents, statements, photographs, or proof that supports the appeal. A list of example documentation

types appears in the NFIP Flood Insurance Claims Handbook.

3) Appraisal. If you and your insurer agree that a loss occurred but disagree about the price of the loss, seeking an appraisal could resolve the claim, but this eliminates options for an appeal.

4) Don't go it alone. Get a Public Adjuster or Attorney involved from the beginning. They work for you and remove the burden of the claims process during this difficult time.

If you need assistance please reach out to us at claims@cutlassclaims.net