Natural disasters like floods, cyclones, storms, or tornadoes don’t give a large prior warning before they are at our doorstep. Even if one is aware of their impending appearance, there is little we can do to wade off their effects other than staying safe indoors and praying it passes with minimum damage. It is only after they have passed that one can step out and assess the damage done and the extent of repair work that will be needed. Cleaning up after a storm is about more than clearing debris and broken branches, often entire houses or parts of them are razed from the ground and there are heavy-duty damages to the roof.
The Insurance Experts
Home insurance covers repairs for damage from natural disasters. After you file for the insurance claims, the insurance company will bring in their experts to assess the damage. A thorough inspection of the house will be done by the insurance adjuster and where necessary they will bring in structural engineers to make accurate assessments of the damage. Where the damage is severe, the homeowner should bring in a reputed licensed house inspector to do a professional inspection before filing the insurance claim. In most cases, the licensed inspector is aware of the areas that the insurance companies will check and give you a proper estimate about how much you can expect and how to negotiate a better deal. They can help you with filing the claims process so that you get the best settlement for the repairs.
Where do the damages appear?
Hurricanes, hailstorms, snowstorms, cyclones, and tornadoes are major weather events that damage entire homes. Wind and rain can flood basements, cause pooling around the foundation and shift the structure, rip shingles off the roof, and cause tree branches to fall over them. After you have cleaned out the debris and seen the extent of damage, first call a professionally trained, licensed home inspector to check the home for needed repairs. obvious damages such as broken windows or missing or cracked tiles on the roof are easy to spot, but there will be other damages that are not visible, or one may be unaware of its impact. For instance, you may ignore a few loose shingles, but during the winter when the snow falls or in the monsoon when it is raining, these will become the points for water to seep through the roof and start pooling under the roof’s surface. This can lead to the occurrence of mold, leakage, damp wall, and other similar problems that will affect the structural integrity of the house. When there is storm damage, ensure every side of the house is examined from the ground up. Check for loose siding, metal trim, and loose soffits as these are potential areas for leaks to develop.
Storms cause so many visible damages that we tend to neglect the ones that are apparent. Hence, it is advisable to call in the services of a licensed professional for one’s peace of mind.
