Flood Insurance

Imagine what an expensive nightmare it would be to rebuild your home or business and replace your valuable possessions. Losses due to flooding could have a serious impact on your financial well being. But that is where my agency and the National Flood Insurance Program can help.
A Dallas insurance policy covers damages to your home, business or personal property caused by:

The overflow of inland or tidal waters;
The unusual and rapid accumulation or run off or surface waters from any source; and
Mudslides that are proximately cause by flooding.

This policy also includes coverage for the following basement items:

Furnaces
Air conditioners
Hot water heaters
Food freezers
Clothes washers and dryers
Unfinished dry walls or sheet rock walls and related fiberglass insulation
Foundation elements
Sump pumps
Heat pumps
Electrical junction and circuit breaker boxes

If you have a Dallas insurance policy for your home or business, you can also receive up to $1,000 to cover the expense of preventative measure against flooding, such as sandbagging.
The amount of coverage you can purchase under a flood insurance policy varies, depending on your community’s status in the flood program. I can help you determine the appropriate level of protection. If you’re in a flood plain and you’re not a homeowner, we can still help; renter’s insurance (Dallas) is available to help protect you in the event of a flood.

Property Claims Service

I know your home is probably your most important asset. More than that, it’s where you live your life. That’s why I want to make sure that if you have a loss, you will be able to get back on track as soon as possible.

Information you will need:

Reporting the claim immediately with whatever information you have is enough to start the claims process. It might be stressful, but taking that first step is going to be the most important part. To complete the information reporting process you will need to provide me, or a claim representative with the following:

Information about what was damaged or lost and when
Blueprints to your home
The extent of damage
Receipts or plans for any additions or upgrades you have made to your home
Condo or town home association rules
Household inventory record

The Household Inventory Record is a document listing all of your possessions, along with a videotape or photographic record of your belongings. If you do not have an Inventory Record, provide a list of missing or damaged items, and be sure to contact me to obtain an Inventory Record so that you’ll be prepared for future claims.

Who will you talk to?

A claim representative will receive your information and contact you at your convenience. That claim representative will be your primary contact and guide you through the claim process from that point on, though he or she may get other claim professionals involved along the way. For example, a Dallas insurance adjuster may be brought in to determine the extent of the damage to your property.

What happens next?

The claim process will vary based on the extent of damage and whether you can safely live in your residence while it’s being repaired. But here’s the typical process:

If needed, we can provide referrals for assistance with temporary repairs.
If your home is not safe to live in, a claim representative can arrange for temporary housing, or provide you advanced payments for living
expenses, depending on the coverage you purchased.
If your damage is major, we’ll arrange for an onsite inspection; if it’s minor, a claim representative can take the information over the phone.
The cause of damage will be determined.
A claim representative or I will go over your policy to determine which coverage’s apply and their corresponding limits.
You’ll be asked to gather key documents for the claim representative and vendors to use as reference.
Cost estimates are received from participating vendors, recommended vendors, and/or the vendor of your choice.
A claim representative will negotiate the cost of repairs.
A vendor is chosen.
Work is scheduled and then completed.

How will your claim be resolved?

When the vendor is paid we may issue a check made out to you (the insured) and the vendor. When all the work is satisfactorily completed, you endorse the check and give it to the vendor, along with the amount of your deductible. If our preferred vendor is used, the claim representative will issue you a Workmanship Guarantee.

Common Questions asked:

How long will it take?

This varies based on the severity of the damage, the number of parties involved, and other factors. You benefit in the long run when we spend time up front reviewing the facts concerning your claim and determining the right type of investigation needed. Sure, some claims may be simple enough to handle in a single phone call, but others are more complex and require additional research.

How can I find out the status of my claim?

If you have already registered your policy/policies at the online Customer Care Center, you can check your claim status online. If not, call 1-800-255-7828 to register for immediate online access. Your claim representative should also be able to answer any questions you may have.

Will filing my claim affect my policy and rates?

That depends on a number of factors, including:

Policy coverage
Prior claim history
Driving record
Loss type

Also, depending on your policy features, the length of time you’ve had your policy, and the laws and regulations in your state, your first claim may be “forgiven.” This means your first claim may not affect your premium. So ask me or your claim representative if this might apply to you.