Flood Insurance Policyholders Urged To File Claims Quickly
Release Date: September 23, 2003
Release Number: HQ-03-206
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Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today advised all Virginia residents affected by flooding from Hurricane Isabel who have flood insurance to contact the insurance company or agent that wrote their policy immediately in order to file a claim.
FEMA's Mitigation Division Director Anthony S. Lowe, who administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), said FEMA contractors were pre-deployed to hurricane zones to provide rapid troubleshooting assistance to flood insurance companies as they prepared for Isabel's aftermath.
Lowe also said the NFIP has agreements with 22 states, including Virginia, to conduct a Single Adjustor Program, whereby one adjustor handles both wind and flood losses for the same building. "This procedure gives the policyholders quicker service because they can have both types of claims handled by one individual," he said.
Lowe credited the many Virginia property owners who protected themselves in advance by purchasing flood insurance. "Those who have experienced hurricanes in the past know that damage from flooding can be just as devastating as that from high winds, and you can recover faster and more completely when you have flood insurance."
The NFIP makes flood insurance available in communities that adopt and enforce ordinances to reduce flood damage by regulating new construction. Currently, nearly 78,000 policies are in force in Virginia, representing nearly $12 billion worth of coverage. The NFIP is a self-supporting program; claims and operating expenses are paid from policyholder premiums, not from tax dollars.
NFIP officials offer the following tips to make the process of filing a flood insurance claim faster and easier:
- As soon as possible, call your insurance company or agent to report damage.
- If possible, photograph the outside of the premises, showing the evidence of flooding and the exterior damage.
- If possible, photograph the interior, showing your damaged belongings and the marks indicating the height of the floodwaters.
- Separate the damaged from the undamaged possessions for the adjuster's examination.
- When the adjuster arrives, let him or her know if you need an advance or partial payment for your loss.
- Throw away damaged property that presents a health hazard or could hamper cleanup. If items have been thrown away, describe them to the adjuster for documentation. Keep a piece of carpet large enough for the adjustor to determine quality and cost.
- Compile a room-by-room inventory of damaged or missing items. If possible, try to locate receipts or proofs of purchase.
- Submit your signed and sworn Proof of Loss form within 60 days following the loss.
"Remember, the most important thing to do is to contact the insurance company or agent who wrote your flood insurance policy," Lowe said. "Returning to a flood-damaged home is a traumatic experience. But recovering from that damage is everyone's goal, and we want to make sure that this process is fast and easy for you."
Information about flood insurance is available at http://www.fema.gov/nfip.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizens Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 24-Sep-2003 14:09:55