Disasters Don't Plan Ahead - YOU CAN!

What Can You Do To Be Prepared?

Read your insurance policies carefully
Inventory your property, take photos/videos or download the app myHOME Scr.APP.book
Keep your policy and inventory information in a safe or off site location
Consider purchasing flood insurance:
Visit floodsmart.gov or call 888-379-9531

What to do to protect your home and finances from damage:

Gather copies of your insurance policies and keep them in a secure, dry location.
Save your insurer’s contact information.
Make a home or business inventory. You can do this by photographing or videotaping your belongings so that you have proof of ownership in case they get damaged or destroyed.
Secure or store outdoor items like grills, patio furniture and small loose items.
Prepare your home by putting up hurricane or plywood shutters on all windows, close your garage door and all interior doors, and brace or reinforce your garage door to help prevent significant structural damage.

What to know when contractors reach out to you:

Ask for proper identification to verify the identity of the individual and their company or organization.
Contractors can prepare an estimate of your loss and answer questions an insurance company has about the estimate.
Before you sign any contract, make sure you understand the terms and what you are required to pay. Need help? Give the MIA a call at 800-492-6116.
Check with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission at https://bit.ly/miadisastertip2 or call (888) 218- 5925 to make sure that any contractor you are planning to hire is licensed.
Do not pay the full amount of the repairs upfront.

What to do if your home is damaged:

Make sure that you and your family are safe.
Contact your insurer as soon as possible to report the damage. Many insurers are utilizing a variety of virtual solutions to keep the claims process safe and efficient. Make sure you get clear guidance on how to proceed.
Photograph or videotape the damage to share with your insurer and keep a copy for your records.
Make temporary repairs if it is safe to do so. If there are holes in your roof or your windows are broken, be sure to cover them as quickly as possible to prevent further damage. Don't discard anything.
Save receipts for any materials you purchase to assist with repairs and for temporarily living expenses. You may submit them to your insurer for reimbursement.

What to know when public adjusters reach out to you:

You can hire a public adjuster to assist you with your insurance claim. They estimate the damage to your home and property, review your insurance coverage, and help negotiate a settlement of the insurance claim for you.
Verify that the public adjuster is licensed online at https://bit.ly/miadisastertip1 or call us at 800-492-6116.
Any compensation for a public adjuster must be clearly stated in a written contract. You have three business days after signing a contract with a public adjuster to cancel.
Your insurer may or may not agree with the public adjuster's estimate of your damage.

For more information on the claims process, go to our website at insurance.maryland.gov

For more information, read our Consumer Advisory: Should I Hire a Public Adjuster to Help Me Settle My Claim? at https://bit.ly/3rX2LqF