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Homeowners and property managers: Don’t get caught unprepared this storm season.
As we are still in the process of helping homeowners and property managers rebuild from the 5/27 storms from last year, we are reminded of the fact that few people were prepared for what hit. Now there are storms that are unexpected, but there are things that we can do ahead of time to ensure that during a storm event you are properly taken care of, you are safe, and you have the proper documentation and process in place to make sure your home is put back together quickly and properly.
Safety is the most important part of being prepared for a storm. Make sure your electrical lines from the road to your house are not touching the ground. If it is do not go anywhere near the line. Call an ZCI Residential and we will send someone out to take care of that for you. If a tree is leaning on a power line, stay away from the tree. There are anywhere from 19,000 to 35,000 volts going through the tree so that is deadly. Also, know where your gas shutoff valve is and the scent associated with it. It may seem like the storm is over and everything is clear but if you have a gas leak and something ignites that, you could be in a lot of danger. We saw two homes completely annihilated after the storm was over due to gas leaks that were completely unexpected. Another way to prepare for storms is to ensure you have surge protectors in your home.
Proper documentation is the second way to be prepared for storms this season. We cannot overstate how important this is during an emotional and difficult time. Make sure to document and take plenty of pictures of the damage and property. Even if it is something in your basement that got flooded. Also, make sure you keep all of your receipts, including hotel and meal receipts that may be covered by your insurance company. You cannot have too much documentation.
Lastly, select the right contractor to repair your home and property. You may hear about disreputable contractors, shady contractors, and fly-by-night contractors, so you may be afraid to sign paperwork to contract with anyone. However, not having a contractor is more dangerous. Be sure to vet your contractors to make sure they are reliable and reputable and that their references check out. Make sure the company has storm restoration experience so you know they understand what to document and how to work with your insurance company.
Getting a pre-storm inspection with ZCI Residential will help us help you in the aftermath of a storm. We will have the documentation to prove to the insurance company that the storm caused the damage and to what extent damage was done to your home.
Stay safe and don’t get caught unprepared this storm season!
– Your ZCI Family