A Guide to Documenting & Reporting Storm Damage

9/3/2021 (Permalink)

A thorough inventory of damaged property can improve the insurance claims process.

While the 2021 storm season has been less active in South Florida than other areas, it has produced a couple of severe weather events such as Category 4 Hurricane Ida. It is important to always prepare for the possible threat of a damaging hurricane because storm intensity and trajectory can change rapidly. When water and storm damage impact your home, it is important to respond quickly with cleanup and restoration. A quick response prevents damage worsening, for example neglected water damage resulting in rampant mold growth.

Here is a short checklist to streamline storm damage assessment of your home and contents:

Photograph and label items one at a time

When taking photos, make sure that the area is well-lit, and the photo is high enough quality to properly show the damaged property. Record serial numbers of damaged property and if possible, track down the receipts for these properties. If it is possible to wait, don’t discard of damaged property until you have documented it and or filed a claim listing it. Take photos of damaged areas and items from multiple angles. Make sure to include both close-up and wide shots.

Assess one room or area at a time

It is a good rule of thumb to start with one area and only move on to another when you have completed documenting the first area. Take notes when sorting through damaged property. Include a description of the item, its age, and both the price at time of purchase and current market price. You may want to use tools such as chalk or wax pencils to mark specific areas of damage such as dented doors.  

Enlist the help of a professionals

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach assists with contents inventory, which comes with photographing, if appropriate, storage of items. We also work directly with insurance companies to provide a streamlined claims process. During the stressful time of storm aftermath, SERVPRO can help manage the questions, insurance paperwork and protect your property from further damage.

Secure your home to prevent further damage

Arrange to have doors, windows and other areas secured against unauthorized entry. This also helps prevent further damage. If you need tarping, board-up, or sandbag services you can call SERVPRO of West Palm Beach.

Storm recovery can be a stressful and painful time for people. South Florida community deserve a well-trained team responding quickly to their storm emergency. No disaster is too large for our franchise because we can access resources from our Disaster Recovery Teams strategically spread across the country. For more information on hurricane preparedness, check out our storm preparedness blog.