Insurance claims

Prepare to make your storm filings go as smoothly as possible

Plan ahead to make hurricane insurance claims go smoothly.

With long to-do lists, right now most of us are working hard to get ourselves, our families and our homes prepared for Hurricane Irma.

Personal safety comes first, of course. But as we firm up plans to stay out of harm’s way, state insurance officials and Florida’s top insurance companies are urging everyone in Irma’s path to plan ahead to avoid complications if we have to file damage claims after the storm.

“Hurricane Irma is a large and dangerous storm, capable of creating widespread damage, and it is crucial for consumers to understand their insurance coverage as they prepare their homes for Irma’s possible impact,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said Thursday.

The CFO’s office urged residents to include copies of their insurance policies in their disaster kits and to call the state’s insurance help line [877-693-5236] with any insurance-related questions or concerns.

Here are some insurance tips to help you both before and after the storm.

Read your property and

flood policies carefully and ask questions long before a storm approaches. Does it cover wind damage? Check coverage for Additional Living Expenses. This covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other expenses if your home is rendered uninhabitable.

Protect your home or property by covering windows with hurricane shutters or plywood to guard against flying objects, move vehicles into garages or carports, carry in grills and outdoor furniture to prevent them from becoming flying objects. If you live in a lowlying area, use sandbags and plastic sheeting to protect against rising water.

of your home and possessions. Compile an inventory with estimated values and send it to the cloud for easy retrieval later. Do the same with a still or video camera. One easy way is to walk through your home and record video with your smartphone. Narrate what is being recorded and include value or replacement costs. Then upload

Make records