Category: Flood Insurance

Steps to Take in Filing a Flood Claim

Dealing with the aftermath of rising waters damaging your property can be a harrowing experience. Understanding the necessary steps to process your insurance claim following a flood can help manage this stressful situation. The following details explain the steps you should undertake in case of a flood.

Prioritizing Safety

Your first step after a flood should always be to prioritize safety. While it’s necessary to file your claim promptly, it’s crucial to ascertain whether it’s safe to do so. If your property is severely flooded, avoid taking risks, vacate the property, and get in touch with the agent managing your insurance policy.

If the flooding isn’t severe, you can remain on the property while filing your claim. However, ensure electrical disconnection to avoid potential shocks from wet wiring within your home.

Presenting Supporting Evidence

Supporting evidence serves as the basis to validate your insurance claim. The condition of your house and the belongings within your home will be appraised before your insurance claim is approved. Avoid moving any items within your home; an insurance adjuster will inspect the premises.

Taking photos of the current state of your home and the damaged contents with your phone’s camera is advisable. The insurance adjuster will also take pictures of the damage for further assessment.

Filling Out the Claim Form

The claim form is instrumental in recording information about the flood. The form will require your address along with comprehensive details about the damage. It must be duly filled, signed, and dated. Upon insurance claim approval, the restoration of your home can commence.

Immediately get in touch with ASZ International Inc. in Westchester, NY, if you experience flooding. An appointment with our agents, who serve Westchester, NY, will provide essential assistance with your insurance claim.

Floods are the costliest and most destructive natural disasters in Westchester, NY, and other parts of America. They are also the most common and pose a tremendous threat to property and human life.  However, the damages don’t have to be severe if you take your time to put the necessary measures to prevent water from entering your home. 

ASZ International Inc recommends buying flood insurance to protect your financial security. In this article, you will learn four flood preparations tips to help you protect your Westchester home or commercial property.

Develop an evacuation plan

Your priority during any disaster is to protect yourself and your family. Before making other plans, you want to ensure that you have an evacuation plan. If you live in a high-risk flood area, plan to evacuate immediately after you receive a flood warning.  Even if the storm is expected to be less severe, you might still want to have an emergency evacuation plan if the situation worsens.

Create diversion

If you have lived in the same house for several years, the chances are that you already know the direction of the water flow. To prevent this water from entering your home, you can create a diversion by digging the water path and using cement bags to create a wall between the water path and your home.

Prepare an emergency supply kit

Once you have an evacuation plan in place, your next step is to prepare an emergency supply kit and keep it in different parts of the house in case you need to get out of the house quickly. Your kit should include enough water, flashlight, food, change of clothes, phone, cash, batteries, and a first aid kit.

Stay connected

It’s essential to keep in touch with your family members and friends. Always have a phone with you for communication in case you need help. Let your Westchester, NY family know the weather condition and stay tuned for emergency weather updates and warnings.

If you haven’t bought flood insurance yet, this is the best chance to get the policy and protect yourself, your family, and your property. ASZ International Inc can help you find a policy that fits your flood insurance needs and budget. Call us for more information.

Worries and uncertainty mar the onset of a rainy season in Westchester, NY. From icy cold weather to destructive floods, homeowners have a lot on their plate and have to find ways to prepare and stay comfortable throughout the season. Flood insurance may be what stands between you and the devastating financial losses caused by floodwater when it comes to floods. So, why should you buy your policy early enough? Here are a few critical reasons.

Flood insurance comes with a waiting period.

Unlike most policies that take effect immediately, flood insurance has a waiting period of 30 days. Despite covering an emergency, flood insurance can be unreliable if you don’t buy on time. For instance, if your home and valuables are damaged in a flooding event within the 30 days waiting period, you will not be compensated.  At ASZ International, Inc, we recommend buying flood insurance on time, especially if you live in a high-risk flood area.

Floods are destructive; it might just be too late.

A lot may happen between the time you buy your policy and the time it takes effect. Many flooding events come unannounced, and it only takes a few minutes for flood water to destroy everything you worked hard to get. In such a case, you may be at the losing end, particularly if you are rendered homeless by floods. Remember your insurance policy may not provide any payout until the policy matures.

Damage done during the waiting period is not covered.

By now, you understand how essential timing is. While many insurance companies in Westchester, NY allow you to buy insurance during the rainy season, the waiting period remains, and it will only be effective after the waiting period.

Don’t be a last-minute policy buyer. Let ASZ International, Inc help protect your property and loved ones from floods. Contact us for a good deal.

The weather in Westchester, NY keeps changing and getting worse by the day. Tropical storms, Nor’easters, and severe thunderstorms have deluged the county with higher intensity and frequency.

At ASZ International, Inc., we recommend checking your area to find out if it is in a flood zone and taking the necessary safety and precautionary measures to lessen the effects caused by floods on residential homes and business premises. Here is what to do if you find out that you live in a flood-prone area.

• If you are under a flood warning, evacuate and find shelter immediately. 
• Do not try to drive or walk through flooded waters and keep off bridges with fast-moving waters.
• Determine how you can stay safe based on the type of flooding. You can evacuate, move to higher grounds, or stay where you are till help comes.
• If flash floods are a risk in your area, monitor potential signs like heavy rains and stay up to date with the weather forecast.
• Gather supplies in case you need to leave the house immediately while keeping in mind the unique needs for every occupant in that house, like medication and pet food. Have external phone batteries and other critical equipment.
• Keep relevant and essential documents in a safe, waterproof container and create a password for digital copies.
• If you have enough time, move your property, including valuables, to safer areas. Declutter all gutters and drains.
• Depending on where you are and the effects and warnings provided by the government, determine a safe area to go or prepare an emergency exit plan for floods.
• If you have been told to evacuate, don’t hesitate or waste too much time packing. Do so immediately. 
• If your vehicle is trapped in moving water, stay inside, but if the water is rising inside, seek refuge through the roof.

Another important thing on your things-to-do before flooding begins is to purchase flood insurance. Floods are not covered under homeowners’ insurance; therefore, it’s prudent that you have this separate.

In case you feel stranded or need further clarification on how to stay safe from floods, speak to ASZ International, Inc., and we will answer all your questions.