When mother nature wreaks havoc, she can cause a tremendous amount of damage, from roofing and siding damage, to large-scale damage like you may see following a hurricane, tornado, or flood. But what can you expect from the insurance claims process following storm damage? In this episode of the Disaster Podcast, we talk a bit about what you can expect and some tips to make the process as easy as possible! Disaster Podcast is brought to you by Disaster Blaster! https://disasterblaster.com/ With franchise opportunities available across most of the country, Disaster Blaster is YOUR chance to take control of your future and be part of a thriving restoration brand. Contact our Franchise Team at 302-242-1042 or Franchising@disasterblaster.com to start your future TODAY! Franchise Opportunities: https://disasterblasterfranchise.com #DisasterBlaster #DisasterPodcast #Podcast #Franchise #news #announcement #Business #Entrepreneur #FranchiseOpportunity #FranchiseOpportunities #BeYourOwnBoss #BusinessOwner #SelfEmployed #home #house #homeowner #storm #tornado #hurricane #flood #floodinsurance #hurricanemilton #hurricanemaria #hurricanewatch #hurricaneseason #hurricanehillary #hurricanesally #insurance #insuranceclaim #insurancecoverage

- On this episode of the Disaster Podcast, is storm damage covered by insurance? Stay tuned. When a storm rolls through your area, high winds, driven rain, and hail regularly result in damage to homes and vehicles. When we are on her bad side, mother nature can wreak havoc causing roof and siding damage, flash flooding, and structural damage. Here are some tips for filing your insurance claim and getting things back on track, following a storm event. After the storm. Once the storm has passed and it's safe to do so, it's a good idea to walk around your property and look for any signs of damage. The most common signs of storm damage include missing or damaged shingles or roof structures, missing or damaged siding, fallen trees which may have damaged structures, flooding or pooling of water, broken windows, and water intrusion, but this is in no way a complete list. Strong winds, heavy rain, and hail can cause significant damage in a short amount of time, and often this damage can be unpredictable. For instance, wind-driven rain can be blown sideways where it is able to penetrate through roofing eaves and ridge vents, window and door frames, and even up under your roof's drip edge. Don't forget to check thoroughly inside your home as well. While you may not see any damage outside, it's still possible to experience moisture, intrusion and roof leaks as a result of the storm. When conducting your walkthrough, be sure to pay particular attention to windows and doors, your attic, and the basement for signs of moisture intrusion. If you see any damage during your inspection, be sure to take good pictures of the damage for your insurance company. What is covered by insurance? First and foremost, it's important to realize that insurance policies can be different and the coverages and exclusions in your home insurance policy are what's important. We always recommend looking at your home insurance policy to determine what is and is not covered. If you have questions about your policy and / or the coverages it outlines, we recommend contacting your local insurance agent who will be happy to address those concerns for you. In general terms, most insurance policies will cover damage caused by high winds, hail, and wind-driven rain. Here are a few examples of what is generally covered and not covered. Wind damage such as damaged or missing shingles and siding are often covered by home insurance policies. While this damage is generally covered, some policies do not include any coverage for wind or storm damage at all. Others may include specific exclusions that require additional endorsements or insurance coverages in the event of named storms or specific weather events for instance. Hail damage most commonly affects vehicles and roofing structures. While it may be extremely noticeable when it's your vehicle, hail damage affecting your roof can be very difficult to see from the ground. In cases where a hailstorm has passed through your area, it may be advisable to hire a roofer to inspect the roof to determine if any damage has in fact occurred. Hail damage similar to wind damage is generally covered by home insurance policies, but there may be exclusions in your policy that may apply. Rain damage can be a bit sneaky at first. While the storm has passed, rain may have been able to get through small gaps in the roofing structure, your exterior walls, or your foundation. In this case, the likelihood of your rain damage being covered depends largely on how the water got into your home. While rain and water damage that results from roof damage will generally be covered. Rain water that touches the ground first and then flows into your home will most likely not be covered under your policy. This is because in most cases this would be treated as groundwater by your insurance company. There are however exceptions to every rule. Groundwater damage is any damage that results from water that touches the ground first. This includes groundwater like underground springs, high water tables, and yes, even rain that touches the ground first before entering your home. While groundwater damage is generally not covered, there are cases where it may be. For example, if you have a sump pump and you lost power during the storm, your sump pump obviously wouldn't be able to do its job. In unique cases such as this, the damage that resulted would be covered under policies that include a sump pump failure endorsement. Flooding can result from a storm situation such as a hurricane or tropical storm, or from the overwhelming of creeks and rivers. Damage that results from flooding is not covered under traditional homeowners policies and instead requires specialized flood insurance. What should you do following storm damage? If you notice storm damage, it's important to react quickly in order to prevent further damage. It's important to keep in mind that the storm damage you see may allow additional rain in from future storms, which will cause further moisture issues and structural damage. Additionally, any interior moisture that is not properly addressed will continue to wick into dry building materials, expanding the scope of damage and even potentially causing mold problems. Here's what you should do. One, take pictures of any storm damage you see. Two, prevent further damage. Have your roof tarped, broken windows boarded up, etc. Three, contact your insurance company to review coverages and report a claim. Four, hire a qualified mitigation and restoration company like Disaster Blaster to begin the services necessary to get you back to pre-loss condition. Would you like to take control of your future and build a business you can be proud of? We can help. As a Disaster Blaster Franchise Partner, our industry experts will help you unlock the potential of the $210 billion restoration industry. Disaster Blaster offers the most revenue streams in the restoration industry, training and support from industry experts, a unique model primed for your success and more. Call our franchise team today to learn more at 242-1042 or visit us on the web at www.DisasterBlasterFranchise.com. Stay tuned for some frequently asked questions, but while you're here, don't forget to Like and Subscribe. What is Flood Insurance? Flood Insurance is specialty coverage available through the Federal National Flood Insurance Program . This coverage is made available to assist homeowners in the event of flooding from rising bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans, and in cases where existing flood controls such as levies fail. Available Flood Insurance coverage is managed and administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency . This coverage is available in two parts. One, a policy that covers property damage such as your home, and two, a policy that covers personal property such as furniture and contents. Homeowners can purchase one or both of these policies. It's important to note that standard home insurance policies exclude flood damage, making Flood Insurance a valuable coverage to have if your property is at risk of flooding. What is winter storm damage? While hurricanes and tornadoes get a lot of attention, winter storm damage actually causes a lot of property damage each year. Winter can be harsh on your home. As the temperatures drop and snow and ice buildup, you can find yourself dealing with a number of issues from roof leaks to frozen pipes. Here are a few things to look for. Frozen pipes. As temperatures drop, pipes can freeze and burst. This can cause significant water damage inside your home. Even worse, pipes that break in areas you may not immediately notice could cause rot and mold growth. Ice dams. When snow on your roof rapidly thaws and then freezes, it can create a dam of ice along the eave. This can eventually cause additional ice, rain, or snow to push up under the shingles where the water is able to then leak into your home through the roof or exterior walls. Because every ice dam is unique to your roof and the environmental conditions that created it, you can have ice dams that create slow leaks. Fast leaks affect one room in your home or several, and everything in between. Winter storm systems can result in heavy winds and hail, which can cause siding and roof damage. The most common sign of wind and hail damage is broken or missing siding or shingles, but you may also find damage to windows, soffits, or personal property. Fallen trees. Trees and tree branches can break or fall under the weight of snow and ice and could damage your home or personal property. It's always recommended to inspect trees each year and trim any dead or weak branches that may be an issue.