What to do if your home was damaged by storms, flooding

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Residents across parts of East Tennessee are working to clear up the damage and debris left by storms last week . If you are one of those people, here is what one expert says to do.

Kevin Walters is the spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, as well as for the State Fire Marshal’s office. He spoke with 6 News briefly on Thursday to explain what the next steps for flooding victims are.

“There are a number of things for consumers to remember and can feel very overwhelming at this time. Our first step, the first step that you should take as a consumer when it comes to recovering from a disaster, is to file your insurance claim as soon as possible. Reach out to your insurance agent, reach out to your insurance company. Let them know about the disaster that’s happened,” Walters said.

Along with that, he said to keep notes detailing what conversations occurred, who you spoke with, and the content of conversations with all companies, creditors, and any relief agencies. It’s also important to take photos and videos of property damage, he added, saying that some policies may require insurance holders to notify their insurance company within a certain time frame, so you should contact your local insurance agent or the company directly.

Once you’ve notified your insurance company, Walters said to ask what documents, forms, and other things you need to file a claim. In the case your home is so damaged that you cannot live there, he said to contact your insurance company to ask if you have coverage for additional expenses.

“Consumers are confused about what their insurance policies cover and what their insurance policies don’t cover. Typically damage is caused by wind, wind-driven rain, falling trees or other falling objects are all typically covered by most standard homeowners policies. The homeowners’ insurance policy does not cover interior water damage from the storm when there is flooding, and damages that occur as a result of flooding or the removal of trees, the trees do not land on or damage or home, so these are important things to remember as you move forward with the process of rebuilding and recovery,” Walters explained.

He also urged those who have suffered damages due to flooding and storms in the aftermath of Helene to apply for individual disaster assistance available through FEMA. Information and resources for those affected, including a link to the application for disaster assistance through FEMA, is available on the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s website.

As many areas are without power, Walter also urged those who may be using a generator to ensure they never operate it inside their home or within 20 feet of a window.

“Carbon monoxide fumes, odorless and invisible, are generated by electric generators that are burning gas to operate. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Just a small exposure to carbon monoxide can result in a fatality, so we want you to be aware of that.” Walters said. “In the course of recovering and rebuilding where you put your generator, maybe something you may not be thinking about. We urge you to be mindful of this so that we can prevent any potential tragedies from happening.”

Moving forward from flooding and storm damage, Walters also warned people to be cautious of “storm chasing scammers,” who may come to communities offering services. To vet the people you may consider helping you rebuild, Walters offered these pieces of advice:

• Always hire a licensed contractor , and make sure they are licensed by going to verify.tn.gov . While a license may not be required for the work you are considering, Walters said not having a license may be a red flag and the person you’re dealing with may not have the work history or information on record with the TDCI to prove who they are.
• Do your due diligence – Ask questions, ask for references, make sure they have insurance, get a copy of their driver’s license, and get everything in writing before work begins. In some instances, you may even get a picture of their license tag. If something goes awry, you want to have the information you need to track them down.
• Never pay more than 1/3 of the project cost at one time – “If someone’s pressuring you into giving them your entire insurance check, that’s a red flag. You should be wondering why this person wants all the money that your insurance company is giving you and instead of taking 1/3 at a time,” said Walters.
• Document progress of the rebuilding process as it goes forward for your records in case something goes awry.

“Whenever people show up after a disaster, most people are there to help. There are some unscrupulous people who are there that are there to take your money. We want you to be aware of that and be on guard because they’re going to come after your money whenever you are at your lowest and whenever you need the most amount of help,” he said.

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