PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Heavy rain and strong winds caused problems across the region on Wednesday.
Residents saw downed power lines, trees and even power outages throughout the region. Now that the storm has passed, 10 On Your Side spoke to a local insurance agent for tips on how to deal with your insurance claims.
“First thing you want to do is take pictures of the damage and make sure that you document that. And then if you can safely remove the branch without hurting yourself or creating further damage, you can do that. But again, you want to make sure that you got pictures of that damage first,” said State Farm Agent, Che Henderson.
Officials said as long as you have insurance before the storm, you are covered for damages caused by nature. Each case is different depending on the damage caused to the property. In some cases, you may need a professional to come out to assess the damage and harm in the home.
“Try and and get that window fixed. You want to get an estimate for how much it’s going to cause and then you can have somebody come out,” Henderson said. “Most insurance companies, if you document what’s happened, will reimburse you for that. The important thing is, is shoring up the damage so that it doesn’t create further damage, particularly if it were raining or, you know, things like that.”
Henderson said it’s best to know what you’re working with. Run your scenario by your insurance agent before filing a claim.
“If you have a $10,000 deductible and the damage is only $5,000, then you’re not going to want to make a claim,” Henderson said. “If your deductible is $1,000 and the damage is $3,000, you know, then you’re more than likely want to make a claim income.”
It’s best to check in with your insurance provider about what to do for your specific case.