Dealing with Disaster, Home and Contents Insurance and More: Suggested Steps after Disaster Strikes

Jun 03 2011

After disaster strikes, and despite your life being in a mess, you should try and follow these suggestions to make the most out of your home insurance. Whether you are covered or not, will be another matter. We all know the common problems that exist in Australia when it comes to insurance and flooding. Referring to your policy, trying to understand what it actually means, will be just as difficult as it was when you bought it.

 

  • Safety First. Structural and power problems will be of the biggest concern. Contact your emergency services as soon as you can. Electricity is not something that can be messed with. Cutting the power is essential, only if you are absolutely sure you will not endanger your life. Waiting for an emergency response team is often the best situation.

 

  • Take Photos. Pictures speak a thousand words. Take as many photos and short videos of the situation you can. You can never have too many.

 

  • Minimize the loss. Your policy will probably require you to take measures to stop further damage. Try to cover structural damage and move what items you can to safer locations to stop further damage to your contents.

 

  • Take an Inventory. Take a list of everything you have, what is damaged and what you have salvaged.

 

  • Contact Your Insurer. Contact your insurer and notify them of the situation. They will guide you through the process of claiming. The main point of contacting is to have an initial record. Follow the steps your insurer recommends.

 

  • Contact your Government. In Australia, it is the CES that handles many of the issues to deal with assistance to the population. Television News will also be broadcasting information on this. Contacting them early is best because  there will be a process of claiming you will need to follow. Again, your case will be recorded from the first contact. Do not miss out on what the government is offering. Much of this assistance will help you in those early days and getting back on your feet in the coming months.

 

  • Wait for an assessor. This is the professional who will look at your claim and your situation. In times of crisis, waiting for this professional to arrive can be very stressful. Understand they will be very busy as there are many others in the same situation.

 

Obviously these are only the basis steps to get some money coming in and getting some direction in your immediate future. Taking the right steps to ensure you can get the home and contents insurance is extremely important. A mistake here could cost you your claim. Government assistance will be available in Australia, and you should take advantage of it. Look for community groups and other local government to help you in the day to day needs in the early days.

 

 

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