One of the best things you can do to protect yourself in the event of an emergency is to be prepared. Accidents seem inevitable, but knowing what your plan of action would be if one were to happen will help make the process more smooth. Learn about different types of catastrophes, action steps to take and working with adjusters on catastrophe claims.
Types of Catastrophes
Colorado is most likely to experience inclement weather in late spring and early fall. But even then, disasters can happen anytime throughout the year. Some of the most common types of damaging weather include strong winds and hail. Strong winds that exceed 50 miles per hour, or straight-line winds, can be detrimental when they knock down trees and power lines, blowout windows and more. This could lead to certain elements falling onto homes and cars. For hail, on the lower scale, cars might be damaged with dents. But for some storms when hails is larger than a nickel or quarter, it can ruin the outer structure of a home. Other types of damaging weather could lead to damaging cars and homes include lightning and tornadoes. In the winter, icy conditions can be damaging to a roof if an ice storm occurs that leads to an inch or more of ice weighing down. Learn more about Colorado’s weather in Skyview Weather’s Severe Weather in Colorado.
Actions Steps
Once a storm or inclement weather scenario is over and it is safe to come out, you need to first assess the area. Post-storm depending on what happened, there may be dangerous debris in or around your home. When going outside, be cautious of down power lines and contact 911 if they have fallen in your yard to have them fixed. If you smell gas, contact a power company as soon as possible. Once everyone is safe, begin to document damage  with pictures. Take as many pictures as you can of the damage, both inside and outside. If the damage was extensive that left the inside exposed to outside elements, you can consider temporary solutions to avoid your home being open to outdoor elements. Once you have your documentation, you can contact your insurance company to file a claim. They will have a claims adjuster come out to assess the damage. You can also work with your own claims adjuster to work with the insurance adjuster.
Insurance and Working with Adjusters (how they can help)
Post-storm, if the damage looks to meet your deductible, one of your first phone calls you will make will be to your insurance company to file a claim. If you are unsure, better safe than sorry and reach out. They will work with you on the process.
If you have been affected by severe weather, Aspen Claims Service offers catastrophe claims adjusting. We will be with you every step of the way to ensure you receive the money you are entitled to. To learn more, read What are claims adjusters? The ins and outs of the profession.To help or ask questions, email us at claims@aspenclaims.com or call us at 888-819-5904.
