Climate change has become one of this century's main talking points due to the damage caused by humankind to our environment. The rising temperatures make life less hospitable as many areas now face severe weather anomalies. From hurricanes to tornados, heat waves to heavy rainfalls, and tsunamis to flooding events, our world is changing considerably. The most notable effects of this climate change are our homes, which are at the forefront of bearing such calamities.
The aftermath of such climatic events leads to considerable headaches for homeowners who must assess the damage caused to their homes. After such assessments, estimates are drawn out for the repairs so that the houses are put back into their original condition. When your home is destroyed by such inclement weather, it is easy to lose your wits, as many questions arise. The primary thing is to avoid making mistakes hastily and make calculated decisions. Such decisions must be made based on past experiences and experts who can guide you.
According to a hurricane insurance claim lawyer, you must avoid seven common mistakes when assessing your home for damages after severe weather. They can also guide you in claiming such damages and making the necessary repairs.
1. Delaying Safety Measures
One common mistake people commit after facing severe weather is to wait too long to make the right decisions. The damages to your home by extreme weather are your most pressing issue and should take all your attention. Ensuring the safety of yourself and your family should be the priority, and you should take shelter or evacuate if necessary. After damaging the house, one of the first steps is to administer first aid to the injured and check for any injuries to the residents. If the damage has been severe, consider evacuating the house and immediately setting out to make repairs.
2. Failing to Contact Authorities
Another mistake often committed by homeowners after facing severe weather is failing to report the damage to the authorities. It may be appropriate for you to handle the situation by yourself or contact your contractor to clean up the mess, but it is often helpful if you can call the authorities for help. It is especially helpful as the '911 Emergency Services' can quickly aid you in emergencies. Also, such professionals are experts in their field and can guide you on the appropriate steps.
3. Not Documenting the Damage
One mistake that can haunt you when the dust settles is neglecting to document the damage. You should thoroughly document all the damages done by inclement weather for later claims made for insurance. You should take clear photos and record videos of the extent of the damage caused by such weather. Such recordings and pictures can be useful later for filing an insurance claim.
4. Neglecting Insurance Claims
While filing for an insurance claim, it is also a mistake to wait too long to make a claim to the insurance company. You should notify your insurance company as soon as possible after experiencing damage to your home. After contacting the insurance company, ensure you've all the documents you can give the company to strengthen your claim. You can also share notes with the photos and videos, giving the insurance company clarity regarding the damages experienced.
5. Attempting Risky Repairs
Another mistake that hastiness and panic can create in a homeowner is to make risky repairs. Making risky repairs to the damage caused by severe weather can cause more harm than good. It is crucial to make such repairs only under the supervision of professionals; otherwise, the repairs can deteriorate the structure's integrity. DIY repairs can lead to injuries and instill a false sense of safety, thus creating more problems than good.
6. Not Mitigating Further Damage
Waiting too long to make the necessary repairs often leads to further damage to the structure. Leaving your property at the mercy of the forces of nature will mean more deterioration and damage to the house's architectural and structural elements. To make sure your home is safe from further damage after experiencing weather-related damages, you must take preventive measures. Such measures can include covering the areas with temporary fixes or calling professionals to make timely repairs.
7. Forgetting About Safety Gear
Lastly, when assessing the damage to your house, make sure you're wearing proper safety gear. It is one thing to experience damages due to weather, but another thing to observe injuries due to neglecting safety while making such assessments. Wearing goggles, gloves, hard hats, and other PPE must be mandatory while making such an assessment to avoid any injuries to the personnel.
Safety should always be the priority when recovering from a severe weather incident. Check for the immediate safety of your loved ones and, if necessary, make temporary repairs. Don't delay hiring professional help to fix your house for too long before more bad weather causes further damage. It is important to stay calm, make the right decisions, document everything, and report the incident to your insurance company and the authorities. Taking these steps can be a lifesaver and ultimately lead to many cost savings.
