Disaster Recovery Steps

What to Do When You Experience a Disaster Like Flooding or Fire:

• Protect your home or business from further damage. Include a professional board up company in your Disaster Recovery Plan who can secure your property by boarding up any exposed holes in the exterior including holes in roof, broken windows, and broken doors.
• Report your loss to your insurance company and/or your insurance agent.
• Find alternate housing or location for your business.
• Contact your mortgage company or landlord.
• Hire a restoration company to do emergency remediation.
• Review your entire insurance policy to be sure you understand your rights before beginning any negotiations with your insurance company. Consider hiring a public insurance adjuster to help you understand what your policy covers and negotiate your claim for you.
• Document the damage to your property (videotape or photographs).
• Notify your utility companies, cable TV, newspaper delivery and other services to change or stop services.
• Contact your phone company to set up voice mail or forward your phone line.
• Contact the post office to forward or hold your mail.
• When declared safe by fire department enter the home or building and remove valuables such as cash or family pictures but nothing that can be replaced.
• Save all of your receipts after the incident.
• Keep a written record of all interactions with your insurer.
• Check the references and qualifications of any service provider, including your insurance company's adjuster.