Ten things you should do...

 

  

...to make disaster recovery go more smoothly and quickly!

By definition, disasters are not predictable, and few businesses are truly prepared for the full extent and nature of a disaster when it does strike. While recovery is never easy, there are a few steps you can take before and after an event to help make your insurance claim proceed in an efficient manner and result in a satisfactory recovery.

Pre- Event

1. Take photographs of property before a natural disaster occurs. Photographs will be important to prove the extent of your damages later. Take new photos every year of any improvements to the property and/or personal property.

2. Back up business-critical information. Make sure your business-critical client records and communications systems are backed up off site so you can immediately retrieve key client information, financial documents and sales histories. This responsiveness can make or break your public relations and disaster recovery efforts

3. Have a response team in place. Put a claim management team together before a disaster strikes and assign a lead person in the event of a loss. An individual who is knowledgeable in the area of insurance should handle interactions with your carrier. This is essential, since the smallest comment can make a big difference in how much money you recover.

4. Protect your property from further damage. It's your responsibility to perform emergency work such as putting up tarps, removing wet drywall and carpeting to prevent mold, and boarding up openings and installing fencing where necessary to protect your belongings and provide safety for others.

5. Beware of contractors asking you to sign a contract for non-emergency services. Ideally, you should not hire a contractor to restore your home or business until you have an agreed repair and/or replacement settlement with your insurance adjuster per "duties after a loss." However, sometimes special circumstances and conditions may apply that would benefit the insured and the insurance company.

6. Document the damage. Photograph or videotape the scene, including the "debris pile", before any clean-up efforts. When estimating the damages, do not rely solely on your historical records. Instead, secure replacement cost estimates.

7. Request a complete copy of your insurance policy. Read and make sure you understand your rights and obligations under your insurance policy before entering into any serious discussions or negotiations with your carrier. Seek out a professional to help you understand what your policy actually covers and, just as important, what it doesn't.

8. Document all your activities and expenses. Keep a log of all activities and save all receipts after the damage, including those for property replacement and extra expenses. The insurance carrier requires you provide documentation of expenses for labor and/or materials used for emergency repairs.

9. Make decisions that are best for your business survival. Policy holders often expect the insurance company to tell them what to do to save their business. Insurance company adjusters are simply auditors of your property insurance claim. Only you know your business and what's best for recovery.

10. Hire your own experts. Your insurance carrier will send an adjuster to evaluate your loss. It's our responsibility to prove the loss with photos, estimates, reports, affidavits and other documents to recover and restore your property to pre-event condition. It's in your best interest to hire an expert that understands the restoration of your property, your insurance policy and insurance company.