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Damage caused by tornadoes

Damage caused by tornadoes

The damage caused by tornadoes can have serious consequences in your home and even the total loss of your property, so it is important that you are prepared to know how to act in case of an emergency of this magnitude.

Tornadoes are one of the most aggressive storms of nature, its main feature is a circular movement that descends to the ground, so you have to be aware of the forecasts and take security measures in this case.
Today we will give you tips so that you are prepared for a tornado emergency and your home or house does not suffer major damage.

What will you find here?

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What to do in the event of a tornado?
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During a tornado, take the following precautions
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After a tornado
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What to do after a tornado 4 steps
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Tornado Damage What to do?
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How to assess tornado damage?
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Protect your property

What to do in the event of a tornado?

Before knowing how close the tornado is, you should know some terms, the tornado watch which means that residents of that area should be prepared and stay alert to the tornado warning or alert, when the latter begins to be issued you should seek shelter.

During a tornado, take the following precautions:

The first thing you should have on hand is a first aid kit, in addition to having a family emergency plan, so that everyone knows how to act in this emergency.  Also, be aware of changing weather conditions.

Tune in to a dedicated NOAA weather radio station or your local television station so you can watch for a tornado warning.

If you are in a home, buildings, school, nursing home, hospital, shopping center: Go to a pre-designated shelter such as a basement, small room on the lowest floor, such as a bathroom, closet or hallway.

Stay away from areas with windows and glass doors, or areas with wide ceilings. The more walls separating you from the outside, the better protected you will be; don’t forget to keep windows closed.

After a tornado

It is not uncommon for injuries to occur during or after a tornado strike, especially when people walk through debris and enter storm-damaged buildings.

Since in most cases tornadoes can affect power lines, gas lines or electrical systems, there is a risk of fire, electrocution or explosion.

For your own and your family’s protection, get treatment promptly and use extreme caution to avoid further danger and stay in a safe place until it is safe to return to the affected area.

What to do after a tornado 4 steps

1- Call your insurance company: You should first contact your insurance company. Report complaints immediately by phone and in writing.

The sooner you do this, the faster the adjuster will respond and assess property damage.

You can either go through the claims process on your own or hire a Public Adjuster to represent you.

2- Verify the terms of your policy: Read the details before the regulator arrives, if you do not understand you can consult your insurance broker or a Public Adjuster.

You cannot change your policy, but you can get information about your coverage. Insurers simply need to act with integrity and conduct “reasonable” investigations.

3- List/enumerate all damages: You or your representative (Public Adjuster) must itemize and list all property damage, including buildings, surrounding property, equipment and vehicles.

4- Talk to a Public Adjuster if necessary: Do not simply accept the adjuster’s loss estimate. A public adjuster can negotiate to ensure full and fair payment. The public adjuster will guide you to a successful process including this step.

Tornado Damage What to do?

Tornadoes can cause extensive damage to your home, at speeds of 180 km/h or more, roofs can come off, and at speeds of 250 km/h or more, walls can come down.

The damage caused by tornadoes can represent a catastrophic loss for your home or business, and it is not so easy to recover quickly from it.  The first thing you should consider if you suffer this type of catastrophe in your home or business, is to have a good public adjuster, who will be in charge of helping you in the whole process and thus be able to have a complete recovery of your home or business.

Let Us Claims public adjusters will help you through the entire claim process. They will guide you and defend your rights to obtain the desired compensation and recover your home or business.

How to assess tornado damage?

Do not enter damaged buildings until you have been told they are safe.

Be very careful of debris, broken glass, nails and other sharp objects.

Wear appropriate clothing, such as sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves and gloves.

Inspect your home or apartment for signs of structural problems. If you need a free inspection, call (407) 610-2333.

Follow all instructions regarding power failure and generator safety precautions. Take pictures of damage inside and outside the home.

Protect your property

Make any necessary temporary repairs to prevent future damage from rain or looting. Most insurance policies cover these costs, so keep your bills. Keep bills for all additional living expenses, such as temporary housing payments.

Because most insurance policies cover all of these costs. List in detail any damaged or damaged personal items.

Damaged items should not be discarded until you have seen or scheduled an appointment with the appraiser. Check the service line and equipment for damage.

If you smell gas, open windows and turn off the main valve. Do not turn on lights or equipment until the gas has dispersed.

If disconnected, turn off the power. Take the time to contract for service. Cooperate with reputable, licensed contractors. If you are unsure of a contractor’s qualifications, contact a Let Us Claim public adjuster who can help you learn more about what to do in the event of tornado damage.

 

Mold damage, Causes and diseases.

Mold damage, Causes and diseases.

Moisture is the main cause of mold damage in your home. This can bring diseases that affect you in the short and medium term; like the rhinitis, skin infections that accelerate disorders such as asthma and migraine. You can avoid all this in your home by following the proper hygienic measures.

Mold can appear on the wall, roof, tiles or even on your own shower curtain. The color is usually black, green or orange, its “closed” smell is very characteristic and can be the main indicator that mold is present in your home.

In this article we are going to give you a series of recommendations to avoid mold damage in your home. Let’s get started!

What will you find here?

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Mold damage can affect your health in these ways
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It's also essential to make your insurance claim for mold damage in a timely manner.
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Tips to get rid of mold in your home
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Moisturizing treatment to eliminate mold on the wall
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Investigate where the mold stains appear
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To clean the stains, you can choose
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This led us to look for a moisture-resistant treatment as a last resort, which we recommend
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What is the mold damage claim process like?

Mold damage can affect your health in these ways

Mold is a living organism that produces very small “spores”, these travel through the air and spread, although you can’t see them, they are always present in your home environment when you have dampness.

Some of the discomforts that can affect your health with respect to mold are the following:

– You breathe worse: when small mold spores enter your lungs they can end up causing respiratory problems and especially having greater consequences in people who suffer from asthma or any respiratory disorder.

– Allergies: Some people are allergic to these spores and they can cause allergies, these can manifest in itchy eyes, constant tearing, nasal congestion, throat irritation or even have headaches.

When these symptoms start to increase and are prolonged, you could end up suffering from arthritis or osteoarthritis. That’s why it’s very important to know how to prevent mold from affecting your health in this way.

It’s dangerous for your family and your health. For example, mold can spread throughout your home by increasing humidity for 2 to 4 days. Creating small spores that we talked about earlier.

It’s also essential to make your insurance claim for mold damage in a timely manner.

A mold colony needs only three things to keep growing: moisture, oxygen and material. Mold damage to a property is generally found in the following materials: drywall, wood framing, flooring, insulation, ductwork and HVAC systems, and other interior finishes.

These materials are among the most concerning when it comes to mold damage to the property.

In addition, measuring moisture is important for accurate mold identification. Removal of contaminated and unrecoverable material, mold remediation, and subsequent remediation can create more problems than is evident in the surface finish. This is one of the things a public adjuster may consider when making an insurance claim for mold.

Homeowners deal with delicate and emotional burdens when affected by mold damage. Causing damage to fabrics, furniture, electronics and items of sentimental value.

Moving is a temporary option to consider when your home has severe mold damage.

Knowing and understanding the mold claim process can be overwhelming. Therefore, the assistance of an experienced and qualified public adjuster can be indispensable to the insured. At Let Us Claim you can count on an expert in this area.

Tips to get rid of mold in your home

The first tip to get rid of moisture in your home is to consult an expert, who will assess whether it is mild or severe damage. Some of the more complex causes are: wet, leaking or broken pipes. Excluding this option, we can focus on solving it by implementing some tricks:

1- Moisturizing treatment to eliminate mold on the wall.

The first step to deal with moisture is to remove the surrounding air for at least 10 minutes a day. This will help circulate the air and clean the house. This action limits the generation of moisture.

You can do this by placing exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens, hanging clothes outside and placing moisture-proof plants indoors to prevent further mold damage.

2- Investigate where the mold stains appear.

Go through your home and look for their origin carefully to find the root cause.

The most common places are kitchen corners, bathroom floors and corners, dark walls in poorly ventilated rooms.

Once you have identified the area and the stain, you can begin to remove the moisture from the wall.

To clean the stains, you can choose:

– Bleach or bleach. It’s one of the best disinfectants.

– Sodium bicarbonate. Eliminates damp and musty odors.

– White vinegar. It’s used to eliminate all types of mold on the wall.

When working with these preparations, be very careful, always wear gloves to protect your hands and use cloths only for this purpose.

Stains reappear every one or two months, knowing that one of the main causes is moisture from condensation and not being able to remove them completely.

This led us to look for a moisture-resistant treatment as a last resort, which we recommend:

Dehumidifiers.

Squeeze.

Moisture resistant coating.

Waterproof coating.

Moisture-resistant gypsum board.

Odor neutralizer.

Now, when it comes to practicing ventilation, cleaning affected areas, removing moisture from walls, understand that hydration is an activity to include in your schedule.

What is the mold damage claim process like?

Our public adjusters will assist you in the mold damage claim process, many times these policies often have changes from state to state.

Filing a mold damage insurance claim with an insurance company requires careful analysis and interpretation of the insurance policy. Also, a clear understanding of the cause of the mold growth must be made.

But don’t worry at Let Us Claim we alleviate the steps to follow for a mold damage claim, we focus on you. We want to help you get the best compensation possible and we are here to help you with all process.

What to do when water damage occurs in the home?

What to do when water damage occurs in the home?

The first thing to keep in mind when your business or home has water damage is to locate the leak or water intrusion. There are flood control kits that you can apply to the affected area.  This way you will avoid exposing other appliances that are threatened by water.

 

In this article we’ll explain in depth how to deal with water damage that may occur in your office or home. It’s very important that you assess the risks before making your claim. Without further ado, let’s proceed!

 

Preventing water damage in the home or business

 

  1. Perform a risk assessment of water damage: An engineer specializing in this area should make an inspection of your appliances that use water. This includes those inside bathrooms and kitchens. The inspector will detect moisture levels, damaged pipes and hoses.

The best thing you can do to prevent water damage is to install a water leak detection and shut-off system. This can help detect a water leak early enough to mitigate the damage in time.

  1. Have a plan in case water damage occurs in your home: In addition to having an expert insurance risk engineer, it’s also important that all members of the home or business are trained and know how to act in the event of this type of unforeseen event.
  2. Have flood control kits: As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, it’s important that this is like the “rescue” in the event of a water damage.

These kits have a high volume liquid vacuum cleaner, a one-meter hose for use with the above device, industrial brooms with high absorbent power, wide squeegee and bags filled with sand. Having these at home or in the office is ideal for mitigating water damage that comes without warning.

  1. Hidraulic Gates: They are the best option in the office and also in the home. This guarantees that water does not enter the structure, you can put them on the entrance doors, windows and exterior steps that have an interior level.

 

Last but not least, it is important that you check your insurance and that it covers this type of events in your home or business, so it is important that you get good advice before making a water damage claim.

 

How long do you have to file a claim for water damage to your home or business?

 

The claim can be made within 72 business hours after the incident occurred. In other words, you have three days to file your water claim. That’s why our public adjusters at Let Us Claim will guide you through this process to make it easier for you to get your claim approved by the company of your choice.

Unforeseen water damage events can occur at any time. The important thing is that you have prior knowledge about the area where the damage originated. At the same time, you should take the necessary precautions to act safely in the area affected by the water.

 

What water damage is covered by the insurance?

 

The first thing to keep in mind is that the insurance covers the following damages caused by water:

-An accidental and unforeseen spillage as a consequence of forgetting to turn off taps, a break, overflow or clogging of pipes, fixed tanks or cold or hot water distribution pipes inside the building.

-Damage resulting from water seepage or leaks through roofs, ceilings, walls and/or walls when such seepage is not due to the lack of repair of the building.

-Damage caused by frost in the hot or cold water distribution pipes, tanks, taps, meters, stopcocks, radiators, etc. If they are inside the dwelling, 100% of the expenses incurred for the work to locate the damage are covered, all this will depend on the insurance company contracted to make the claim for the damage caused by water.

 

Limitations of water damage coverage in home or business insurance.

 

Water damage coverage can have many nuances, so it is important to review it thoroughly. For example, there are cases in which, if no damage is caused by a burst pipe (which is quite difficult, but not impossible), the insurance does not cover anything.

It should also be taken into account that this coverage has a limitation in terms of maximum amount per loss. Another aspect to be taken into account is that related to pipes in bad condition or damage caused by freezing, which are probably also covered.

In relation to the above, we stress the importance of checking that the home insurance also includes, in addition to water damage coverage, aesthetic damage and pipe repair.

As for damages caused by rainwater, such as leaks and filtrations, we already mentioned in the previous point that they are not always covered. And, if they are, specific conditions must be met.

In this sense, insurance companies only cover water damage caused by rain, hail, hail or snow.

In the case of rain, it’s common to establish as a condition a minimum volume per square meter, with wind speeds higher than specified in each case, and with an accreditation to be requested from the National Meteorological Institute.

Water damage can have many causes, from burst pipes to leaks and flooding. No matter what the cause of the problem, Let Us Claim will take care of the issue so you can relax.

We will analyze your insurance contract and look for exceptions and hidden coverages.

We will guide you through confusing policy wording and explain the coverage so you fully understand it.

We’ll help you mitigate the damage and reinstate the property so your life can return to normal.

Insurance Policy in Florida

Insurance Policy in Florida

It’s always very important to know in depth how the insurance policy in Florida works, especially if it is for your home. This insurance protects your financial interests if your home is damaged or destroyed by a natural phenomenon. Whether it’s a fire, windstorm or hurricane, the policy covers these perils.

Insurance policy coverage varies from one insurer to another. That is the reason it’s important that you take good advice and check well in advance what is included in the insurance coverage in Florida, and if you have an insurance policy, make sure that it covers everything you need. Once the loss occurs, it will be very difficult to obtain additional coverage.

But without making the explanation any longer, in this article we are going to mention some insurance policies in Florida. Let’s get started!

 

Types of Homeowner’s Insurance Policies in Florida

 

There are different types of homeowners insurance policies. Most of the time this type of policy has similarity with the type of structure to be insured and how the structure is occupied, that is, the type of policy also correlates with the coverage that is available.

Let’s see what is the difference of each one, the types of policies are as follows:

  1. Owner Occupied: This type of policy covers the basic or broad coverage forms (perils that are previously specified in the policy) and also this type of insurance offers special coverage (covers all perils except those specified as not necessary within the policy form).

2.Condominium Unit Owners: This type of policy requires a Condominium Unit Owners form, this serves to cover some of the structure, but is mainly intended to cover personal property and the liability of the insured.

These policies cover only the perils named within the coverage form, although you can extend it with an endorsement, you can improve the coverage except for what is in the contract.

This type of insurance policy in Florida also allows you to obtain loss assessment coverage. What does this mean? You pay your share of the expenses of the loss, that is shared by several owners of the same unit and they range from $2000 with a loss assessment of no more than $250.

  1. Renters: In this case if you lease or rent the dwelling, you also need a renters policy, this has personal property and liability coverage, it’s a good option to insure your unit.
  2. Modified Coverage Form: There are many Florida insurers that offer this service, but it’s necessary to clarify what coverage it has; this type of policy is responsible for covering a little less than basic or broad coverage, everything will depend on the underwriting contained in the insurance company you are going to.
  3. Housing Form: This is a property policy that covers risks that do not qualify for a homeowner’s policy, which is why they have this different name, and this dwelling form can be used on older homes, rented or for other underwriting reasons.

 

6.Mobile Homes: Very few insurance companies cover these types of homes, however, there are forms that apply to coverage for these basic or comprehensive homes and with certain specifications on the form.

 

How do insurance policy coverages work in Florida?

 

In general, insurance policy coverages work as follows: they cover the dwelling, attached or non-attached structures and personal property.

They almost always include Additional Living Expenses and liability coverage, and these policies go hand in hand with specified policy limits.

ALE’s provide indemnity for all those additional “expenses”. In the event that the insured must live elsewhere due to a covered loss of the covered residence, ALE pays these “additional” expenses on a reasonable basis until such time as the property can be inhabited.

These coverages have certain special limits with the following items: jewelry, weapons, leather garments, money, cameras, art or antiques. You should review the list in your policy and talk to an insurance advisor about additional coverage, if needed.

Finally, keep in mind that flood damage is not usually covered by homeowner’s insurance policies, so if you need that type of coverage you should go ahead and purchase a policy specifically for flood damage.

 

Interesting facts about insurance policy coverage in Florida

 

With respect to replacement cost versus actual cash value, most replacement cost policies require that you have limits to cover a certain percentage of the replacement cost value (usually 80%). If you do not have sufficient insurance coverage, you may be responsible for a percentage of the partial loss.

Both types of contracts are available in Florida. You should consult your own contract to determine how your loss will be resolved.

On the other hand, the projection against inflation is also important to understand how it works. In homeowner’s insurance coverage, you need to be aware that even if companies include inflationary projection in the clause, it doesn’t guarantee that values will increase enough to cover the cost of construction.

If a policyholder has concerns regarding the amount of coverage, they should talk to their agent about completing a new replacement cost estimate for their home. And at Let Us Claim, we will always be available to help you with this type of paperwork at no additional cost. We have the experience to guide you through the insurance claim process.

How to prevent a fire at home?

How to prevent a fire at home?

Home fires can be prevented as long as you act in time to avoid suffering serious consequences. That’s why in this article we’ll give you tips to overcome a fire damage, in case your home experiences one.

To do so, it’s necessary to be clear about the types of fires that exist. This way you’ll know how to control them.

Fires are classified as follows:

  1. Class A: These are combustible materials such as paper, cardboard or wood.
  2. Class B: They come from flammable liquids.
  3. Class C: They originate from electrical problems.
  4. Class D: They can be generated by flammable metals.
  5. Class F: They are caused by the cooking oils.

It’s necessary to take into account several factors that can cause a fire. It’s important that you know the procedures to follow in case of a fire in your home. This in order to ensure your safety and that of your family.

fire-home

Tips for preventing fires in the home

Fires can cause great damage to your home. That’s why you should always be prepared for any type of mishap.

 

Next, we’ll give you tips for fire prevention in your home.

  • Check the gas and electricity installations in your home. Remember to make sure they are working properly.
  • Make sure that electrical appliances are in good condition.
  • Avoid at all costs to connect electrical appliances of high consumption at the same time. This can generate an overload of current, which could set fire to the wires of your home and everything flammable in its path.
  • Don’t leave candles burning for too long. If you can’t be aware of them, avoid leaving them lit.
  • Always keep the chimney clean and with its proper protection, this way you’ll avoid that the chips generate a fire in your home.
  • It’s very important that you invest in a differential switch inside your home. This is a great tool to help prevent a fire in your home.
  • Hair and clothes irons consume a lot of energy and can overload your home’s electrical system. That’s why we recommend that you keep them unplugged when not in use.
  • A universal rule, do not smoke in enclosed spaces. Avoid the accumulation of smoke having a window or door.
  • When you are in the kitchen, pay close attention to everything. This part of the house is one of the main causes of fire in your home, check that the oven is not left on for a long time after having used it, avoid leaving pots and pans near the burners, be careful with oils, and also be very preventive with gas leaks.
  • If you’ll be away from home for a long period of time, the best thing to do is to turn off the gas tap to avoid fire damage in your home.

And as a last tip, install a smoke detector, it’s ideal to have one in every room of the house, more than an investment will help you prevent major fire damage in your home.

fire-roof

How to put out a fire at home?

We know that it’s very complex to control a fire in your home after it has started, that is why the best way to fight them is to act quickly so that it does not cause great damage.

The best way is to control these fires from the beginning before they spread, so we’ll give you a series of recommendations so that you can be forewarned and be able to face a situation like this in your home without suffering the consequences of the damage caused by fire.

  1. Use a fire extinguisher, it’s almost mandatory that you have one, keep in mind that these devices have foam and should not be used to extinguish fires caused by oils, it’s a serious mistake, it is key to know what type of extinguisher is used for each type of fire.
  2. Using a fire blanket to fight small fires in the kitchen is a great help.
  3. The wet rags work very well in a small flame, the most recommended is that it can be covered with a wet rag.
  4. Baking soda, which is part of our daily life at home, also serves to extinguish small fires, always have this component at hand in your home.
  5. Important: in case you can’t control the fire, contact the fire department and prepare an evacuation plan.

 

What are the safety measures to implement in case your home catches fire?

If you have children at home, it’s best to follow these recommendations to the letter. This way you will avoid many accidents at home or fire damage.

  1. Cover the electrical outlets.
  2. Do not leave flammable products near children.
  3. Plan a fire safety action plan at home.
  4. It’s essential that the whole family is educated to know what the fire alarm noise is. How to act in case of hearing it and to take into account all the emergency exits.
  5. Last but not least, it’s never an option to hide in these cases.

It’s advisable that all the members of the family know the main preventive measures in case of a fire due to an electrical problem or gas leak in your home.

fire damage

At Let Us Claim we handle all types of fire damage in your home.

Let Us Claim is your ally when making an insurance claim for fire damage. Our team of experts will guide you through the entire claim process. We are licensed and accredited to represent our clients to obtain fair compensation to repair the damage to your property.

From commercial fires, residential fires, smoke, flame and soot damage. Our public adjusters are here to assess and document the damage and affected areas, establish the value of your loss and work for fair compensation for your claim.

Contact us! We have 13 years of experience and have coverage throughout Florida. If you have fire damage to your home or business we can help. Call 407-610-2333 to schedule your inspection completely free.