What do I need to know before I make a Flood Insurance Claim?

There are very specific requirements set up by the National Flood Insurance Program, a federal program created to provide access to affordable, federally-backed flood insurance protection for property owners. This federally-backed insurance is managed through licensed agents such as Alpha Insurance. As a homeowner, it is important that you know your responsibilities in reporting and filing a claim to ensure that you get the full benefit of your flood insurance. Understanding the process will aid us in ensuring that the placing your flood insurance claim is as stress free as possible.

Most business owners keep a detailed list of every item in their inventory, but too many times a homeowner neglects this important task until it is too late. Keeping an inventory of all of your assets including the date of purchase, the model and serial number and, if you are really on top of things, a picture, will assure that, if disaster does strike, you will be able to recover these assets up to their full replacement value (not market value of the item at the time of the loss).

As with any disaster a flood can come quickly and unexpectedly. Trying to document and remember these things in the middle of a disaster can be very stressful. Knowing that you have everything already documented will give you the security that you need to know that your things will be replaced. This will enable us to handle your claim much more quickly and efficiently.

What should I do if a flood strikes my property?

Contact Us

Contact Alpha Insurance immediately to report any flood loss. A claims adjuster will be assigned to assess the loss and determine recovery costs. NFIP requires a policyholder to file a “proof of loss” within 60 days from the date of loss. Your policy with us may have other claims procedures which we will cover when you purchase your coverage, however, the 60-day time limit from the NFIP for proof-of-loss filing remains the same.

Document the Damage

Document the damage that was a result of the flood, to the best of your ability. The sooner this is done the better. Flood damage can quickly destroy property and standing water can cause other damage such as mold and mildew to take place in a short period of time.

Don’t throw anything away before an adjuster has seen it, unless local law requires you to. In that case, take photos of the property before disposing of it and keep samples for the adjuster to see. (For example, cut out a piece of wall-to-wall carpet.)

To file an official flood insurance claim you will need a repair estimate from your adjuster. To prepare your repair estimate the adjuster will need evidence provided by you of the damage suffered to your home and any contents covered in your policy.

Take Photographs

Try not to discard anything until the adjuster sees the damage. In some cases this may not be possible, so it is important to take photographs of everything.

 

  • Photographs of all of the damaged property.
  • Photographs any structural damage and the standing floodwater levels.
  • A list of damaged or lost items including their date of purchase, value, and receipts.

File a Proof of Loss (POF)

You will need to file a Proof of Loss (a sworn statement of the amount you are claiming including necessary supporting documentation) for your official claim for damages. A Proof of Loss must contain the specific details of the loss and must be filed with us within 60 days of the flood. This document substantiates the insurance claim and is required before the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or insurance company can make payment. You can ask your Alpha agent if you need help with filling out the POL form, however as the homeowner you are responsible for filing your Proof of Loss claim statement.

When will I receive my payment?

In cases of minor loss you should receive your claim payment quickly once the amount of damages are assessed and the completed Proof of Loss statement has been filed with the NFIP. However, if major catastrophic flooding occurs that affects a broad area, claims may take longer to process and payments could be delayed due to the sheer number of claims submitted.