Strong winds will remove the roof shingles and cause uprooting of trees along with shattered windows in a span of only minutes. Checking the damage to your property after a terrible storm is very distressing for any homeowner. At such times, it is difficult to know the next course of action.
Knowing the steps needed and the procedure to be followed can help you save your valuable bucks, file your insurance claim faster and protect your family. Follow these important steps in a proper sequence to ensure the security of your property against further damages when organizing repairs.
Steps To Protect Your Property From Damages Due To Severe Winds
Take Steps To Ensure Safety
Personal safety is the primary concern for a homeowner at any time. Do not venture out in the open to inspect damages to your property without ensuring there are no immediate threats. Powerful winds are known to knock down live wires from the poles and damage gas pipelines as well as branches from tall trees. Immediately move away from the premises if you get the smell of gas coming from somewhere. Keep yourself and your family members inside the house until the surrounding area is free of dangers.
Document the Extent of the Damage
Do not start cleaning up your yard before taking sufficient pictures of the damage. Documentation of the extent of the damage is necessary for filing an insurance claim. First click some pictures showing wide angles of your home and lawn. Then move on to capturing close-ups of broken windows, missing shingles, and damaged belongings.
Protect Your Property Against Further Damages
Once you have gathered sufficient documentation, it becomes essential to safeguard your property against additional damages. You will be expected to do that under most of the insurance policies. You may need to cover the roof with a heavy tarp and board up your windows with plywood to prevent water leakage, and don’t forget professionals in emergency roof repair in OKC for tasks like this. Keep all receipts issued to you in exchange for purchasing the required materials. These expenses will be covered by your insurance.
File an Insurance Claim
Call your insurance company to inform them about the situation and the extent of the damage done to your home. Call centers get overwhelmed with requests for adjustment when such natural calamities strike a particular region. So contacting the company sooner will enable you to move towards the top of the list. Talk to your agent regarding your policy and its coverage. Find out the deadline for filing your insurance claim documents.
Clear Your Yard Of Minor Debris
Once the necessary documentation and notification are completed, you can go ahead with the cleaning process. Wear thick gloves, sturdy footwear, and glasses to protect yourself. Remove small branches, scattered garbage, and other items that may become dangerous during a secondary storm. Large and heavy debris should be left to the professionals.
Turn to Professional Repairmen
You will need to hire skilled contractors to repair the damages. Look around for reputed local companies providing roofing services. Window installation service providers as well as those specialized in tree removal will be required to fix the damage in your property. Seek estimates in writing from these companies for the job.
Avoid Dealing With Storm Chasers
These are people who travel in search of calamity zones to earn quick money. Storm chasers usually demand upfront payments, but end up delivering poor quality work or abscond after receiving the money from you. Never engage the services of any unsolicited repairman. Make it a point to research on the internet as well as find their license numbers before hiring them.
Get Yourself Ready For Future Emergencies
It is necessary to remain alert throughout the recovery period. More storm waves may cause additional damage to your damaged property. Take advantage of this experience to revise your emergency plan and update the inventory of belongings in your house.
By following the above tips, you can save yourself a lot of trouble. Check the present coverage details of your homeowners insurance and save names and contacts of local repairmen in your phone.