Insurance and the snowstorm

With predictions that a major snowstorm is poised to our area this weekend, the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New York (IIABNY) is warning resident and businesses to check their insurance, and be ready for what ever comes.

Households and businesses in the area may feel severe impacts. IIABNY and its member insurance agents and brokers urge them to take the following steps now to prepare:

For Households:

Before the storm, prepare an inventory of the contents of the home, including furniture, electronics, clothing, equipment, and valuables.

If the storm damages property, take reasonable and safe measures to prevent further damage.

Report the loss to your insurance agent, broker or company as soon as possible. Write down the details of all conversations, including the names, phone numbers and email addresses of the people with whom you spoke.

Save the damaged property so that the insurance company can inspect it.

Make no repairs until the insurance company has inspected, unless those repairs are necessary to prevent further damage. Keep a record of the amount spent on emergency repairs.

For Businesses:

Prepare for power outages by backing up computer data; storing the backups at a secure, offsite location; and plugging electronic equipment into surge protectors.

Update the inventory of business personal property, especially anything particularly susceptible to water damage.

To the extent possible, elevate electronic equipment or move it to other locations to protect it from flood damage.

Create a plan for contacting employees during off-hours, if necessary.

Create a means for customers to contact you if your office is closed due to the weather, be it mobile phone, email or your web site. Establish some way to communicate this to customers (phone greeting message, web site, etc.).

Make sure that appropriate staff members have contact phone numbers and email addresses for vendors and suppliers in the event you must close your office.

While the terms of the individual policies that households and businesses own will ultimately determine whether insurance will cover these losses, an insurance agent would be able to answer questions about auto, homeowners, commercial property and flood insurance.