The wind and hail seem to be what does it in Brownsburg area. The storms we get here maybe don’t seem to be as severe as the storms seen in other parts of the country; but even a mild storm can do a lot of damage when it brings hard winds and hail with it, and anyone who was here a few years ago will remember the knocked-down fences and shredded roofs following a particularly nasty storm. For the Brownsburg area, storms aren’t an everyday concern, but that’s exactly how they catch so many of us off-guard. So being prepared, knowing what to do before, during, and after a storm, that can go a long way to keeping your home in one piece. Here’s what you need to know:
FULL Preparation
We all know the basics: Canned food, batteries, bottled water, first aid kit. Even a light storm can knock out the power and bust water pipes, so we want to be prepared for that. But full preparation extends beyond having the emergency supplies on hand; we also need to be prepared with the proper knowledge. For instance: What does your homeowner policy cover? It probably covers wind damage, but what about flooding? That usually requires extra protection. It’s a good idea to figure out what’s covered and what isn’t so that you can invest in a level of protection that you’re comfortable with.
Control The Damages
Before you call your insurer, you’ll want to get the damages under control. Get your valuables tucked away safely from broken windows and water damage, point a room fan at any floorboards or walls that are soaked. The initial damages are because of the storm, and that’s probably covered on your insurance policy, but any damages that you could have prevented might not be.
Don’t Call Your Contractors Yet
Immediately following a storm, you really don’t want to talk to your contractors until you’ve called your insurance agency and filed a claim. Your insurer will send out an appraiser to get a look at the damages and determine what it’s going to cost to get them repaired. It needs to be stressed: You really shouldn’t trust any contractor who wants to get first-look at your roof. This is a telltale sign of a “storm chaser” scam, people who go door to door following a storm making big promises with strong-arm sales tactics, and then, more often than not, take the money and run. Legitimate contractors don’t do this. They let you settle things with your insurer, and they wait for you to call them, not the other way around. And of course, the more research you do on your contractors, the harder it’s going to be to scam you.
A storm may technically be “minor,” but even a mild storm is never easy to predict. All it takes is one strong gust of wind to break a window or tear up some loose shingles. Like they say: Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Even a mild storm can cause severe damage, so plan ahead and play it safe.
