What to do After a Storm Causes Property Damage

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

If your property has been damaged by a storm, contact the Fort Worth storm damage repair experts at SERVPRO now.

Fort Worth, TX is among the top 20 Texas cities with the highest tornado index while the highest-ranking towns are immediately south of here. Because the Fort Worth area is such a hot spot for severe storm activity it’s necessary to have a plan in place for what to do after the next storm blows through. 

The hope is that your home or business will be spared storm damage, but the reality is that property damage is a real possibility during the warmer months. Being prepared for a major storm event means you’ve secured adequate property damage coverage and that you know what steps to take when storm damage happens.

SERVPRO of Fort Worth is “Faster to any size disaster” and we want members of our community to be prepared as well. Read this guide to help you put your own action plan together.

What is Property Damage?

Property damage is any destructive alteration of a structure (like a house) or belongings (like a car) to the point that it needs repair, reconstruction, or replacement. The typical causes of damage to properties are negligence, willful destruction (like vandalism), or an act of nature.

The cause of the damage matters, because it determines property damage liability. For example, if you are in a car accident and it’s the other person’s fault, they are on the hook for the repairs.

Property damage from weather events are not the fault of any party, so responsibility usually falls on the insurance company of the insured (when coverage allows).

SERVPRO Restoration Services for Storm Damage

Not all storm damage is the same with all the variables at play. You have the age of the property, plus the kind of storm that happened (tornado, flash flood, electrical, etc.)

One property may have more wind damage than flood damage and vice versa. Some properties may catch on fire from rare factors like a tree falling on a power line.

Because of these different factors, the steps involved in the restoration process will be adjusted accordingly. Below are the core components of our storm damage recovery process, including Fort Worth water damage restoration.

24-hour service - Bad weather can happen at any time, so we are always here and ready to assist.

IICRC Certified Managers and Storm Technicians - We send teams to the scene who are specially trained for storm event cleanup and restoration.

Water removal and water damage restoration - High-powered water extractors remove gallons of water from your property, followed by complete moisture removal to prevent rot and mold growth.

Fire Damage Restoration - If fire damage results from the storm, we fully clean and restore the property.

Roof tarping and board-up - Severe storm damage leaves property vulnerable to theft, vandalism, and additional damage from natural elements, so we secure the property with tarping and board-up.

Storm debris cleanup - We collect and properly dispose of all storm debris on site.

Temporary fencing - For lengtheir projects, we will set up a fence and security to protect the worksite from theft and trespassing.

Moving services and long-term storage - We carefully store your personal effects and property content while the restoration is underway.

Clothing sanitization - We use our industrial-grade Esporta Wash System to remove smoke and floodwater contamination from fabrics, textiles, and soft goods.

What Types of Storm Damage are Under Insurance Coverage?

Generally, storm and hail damage are covered by insurance. However, if the insurance adjuster finds that the damage is due to neglect, they may decline part or all of the claim.

Property insurance coverage doesn’t usually cover flood damage either. If your property is at risk for flooding, you should secure supplemental coverage.

Steps to Take after Storm Damage to Your Property

Storm damage transforms a property in the blink of an eye. In such chaotic aftermath, where do you even begin? As a professional restoration company with decades of experience in the DFW area, here are the steps SERVPRO recommends and in the order you should do them. 

1. Assess the Property Damage
2. Contact Your Insurance Company 
3. Prevent Additional Property Damage
4. Choose the Best Restoration Service for Your Home

Assess the Property Damage

It’s human nature to want to reenter property as soon as possible after an event to understand how much loss there is, but, the structure may not be safe to enter. It’s best to get clearance from the authorities first (like the fire department)

Once you can safely reenter, take plenty of photos and video. Document everything that may have been lost or damaged. Missing roof tiles, ripped rain gutters, damage to the glass, lost siding, etc.

Contact Your Insurance Company

As soon as you have all the damage documented, contact your insurance company. Do your best to determine the monetary value for the items that were lost.

Some insurance policies may offer reimbursement for your temporary housing needs. Keep receipts for temporary housing (like a hotel), replacement clothing, and personal care items so you can be reimbursed for these expenses. 

Once your insurance company receives your property damage claim, an insurance adjuster conducts an assessment. From there, the insurance company will either grant or deny your claim (or partially deny the claim), which results in repairs paid for by the insurance company, or reimbursement for the total loss of the property.

Prevent Additional Property Damage

We strongly recommend that you do your best to secure the property with shields from secondary damage, like tarping or board up. Insurance companies may deny coverage for further damage that should have been prevented. SERVPRO is prepared to set up these safeguards (such as roof tarping and board up)

Choose the Best Restoration Service for Your Home

Does it matter which storm damage restoration company you go with? Don’t they all do the same thing? While all restoration companies should deliver the same results, the truth is that some may cut corners or give poor service. Read up on a company before securing their services. 

After you make contact with your insurance company, you’ll want to get a reputable storm damage restoration company lined up right away. The sooner crews come out and work on the damage, the more secondary damage can be averted like mold growth or further breakdown of construction. 

Certified Dallas SERVPRO Experts Ready to Help With Property Damage Restoration

As mentioned in the previous section, not all restoration companies are equal. What makes SERVPRO different is that we handle all aspects of restoration in one streamlined process. This means you don’t have to hire one company to do debris removal, one to clean up the water damage, and then a contractor to rebuild. We handle it all, including mold remediation.

SERVPRO of Fort Worth is a preferred vendor by many insurance companies and we work directly with your insurance company on your behalf. We have extensive experience working with insurance carriers, so we have the process down to a science with efficiency. 

And with a single point of contact managing your property restoration, that means you have just one call to make for updates - to your SERVPRO case manager. No list of phone numbers to toggle. One call to us and you can track and be part of the process.

When it comes to storm damage recovery, you call the shots. 

• First, call emergency services and make sure everyone is safe.
• Next, call your insurance company to get the claims process going right away - don’t put this off.
• Finally, call SERVPRO for emergency contact. We’re faster to any size disaster and will get started on the process for you ASAP! We are never closed. We are always here to answer the call 24/7.

We also offer free estimates. Call SERVPRO of North Richland Hills (817) 589-1499 any time.