6 Insurance Tips for Making a Storm Damage Claim

Sometimes Mother Nature likes to shake things up a little. If your home didn’t weather a storm as well as you hoped it would, we have some tips to help you file an insurance claim for storm damage and get back on track quickly. Here’s where you should start.

Act quickly. Filing a claim with your insurance company for storm damage in a timely matter is important for a couple reasons. Most insurance policies limit your time to file a claim, which makes being quick to connect essential. You’ll also want to repair the damage to your home or property before it has a chance to get worse, so reporting your claim early is the best approach.

Review your policy. If you know what your homeowners policy and optional insurance covers, how to proceed and what you can expect from the process, you’ll be better prepared to plead your case. Each insurance policy and claim is different. Reviewing your policy gives you information that specifically applies to you.

Document everything. It’s smart to keep a log of the storm and the damage. Save news reports and take pictures immediately after to document any damage. Don’t start cleaning up until you’ve documented as much of the damage as is safe and wait to handle the big messes until after a claims adjuster has assessed the situation.

Get quotes from professionals. While it's important to walk around and assess the damages yourself, a professional opinion will be thorough and may mean more to your insurance provider. A great resource would be a storm repair contractor. They specialize in finding, assessing and repairing damage from storms and will check your home from roof to basement. If you can, get estimates from a few experts.

Be wary of scammers. Unfortunately, storm damage can bring scammers to your area with promises of quick and cheap repairs. Whether you’re filing an insurance claim or not, research anyone who offers to repair your home. Look for contractors who are licensed, insured and experienced.

Mitigate your damages. If the storm affected a large area, you may have to wait a while before a storm assessor can review your damage and maybe even longer before you can get it fixed. In the meantime, you’ll want to take steps to prevent further home or property damage. This could include tarping your roof, cleaning a wet basement, boarding up holes and more. Document the damage, then document how you’re taking steps to protect your property.

We’re here to help you protect and restore all that matters most to you. The fastest and easiest way to report storm damage to your home or property is with the MyAmFam app. File a claim, upload photos of the damage and track your claim’s status, all from within the app. You can also connect with your American Family Insurance agent if your home was damaged in a storm to file a claim or better understand what your homeowners insurance covers.

This article is for informational purposes only and based on information that is widely available. We do not make any guarantees or promise any results based on this information.

*Customers who bundle home and auto insurance policies may save up to 23% on both policies together (as of December 2023). Discounts may vary by state, property, policy form and company underwriting the home and/or auto policy. Discounts may not apply to all coverages on a home or auto policy.