With Mississippi being prone to natural disasters including hurricanes, tornados, severe storms, torrential rains and flooding, there’s a good chance that if you live here long enough, you’ll experience some storm damage to your property. When disaster strikes, knowing how to properly and comprehensively assess your property damage is the first step to swiftly and safely restore your property.
Below is a detailed, post-storm checklist to guide homeowners through the essential steps of evaluating and mitigating damage after severe weather.
After The Storm: A Property Damage Assessment Checklist
- Safety First
Keep personal safety in mind when beginning your assessment. Wait until the local authorities say it’s safe to return to your property. Then be on the lookout for hazards such as downed power lines, unstable structures and flood waters. If you smell gas or see downed lines, evacuate the area and call the authorities immediately. - Initial Exterior Assessment
Start on the outside of your home, inspecting the roof for missing shingles and holes and broken gutters and downspouts. Check the outside walls for debris impact and wind damage, and windows and doors for broken glass and frames. Survey your yard for damage to outbuildings as well as downed trees, branches and other debris. - Interior Inspection
If there is standing water in the home — but you don’t have to walk through water to reach the main power — turn it off before entering; otherwise, call an electrician to ensure it’s safe to enter. Then, go through each room looking for stains and leaks on ceiling and walls, and inspecting the floors and carpets for warping and water damage. Carefully inspect your electrical system and appliances for damage. Keep an eye out for the beginnings of mold and mildew growth. - Documenting Damage
Properly documenting the damage is important when filing insurance claims. Take clear photos and videos of all the affected areas inside and out. Write an inventory of your damaged items including their estimated value. Remember to keep all receipts for temporary repairs and other expenses. - Contacting Your Insurance Company
Report the damage to your insurer as soon as possible and be prepared to send them your documentation. Review your coverage with them and confirm the deductibles. Ask how long the claims process will take and if you need to do anything else. - Temporary Repairs
If possible, cover your roof with tarps to prevent further water damage, and board up windows and doors to secure your belongings. Remove standing water and begin the drying-out process. - Hiring Professional Help
It’s likely that some repairs will require professional help. If it looks beyond your skill and abilities, it probably is. A professional contractor will have the tools and expertise to do the job right.
To avoid shoddy work and long-term problems, it’s important to hire an experienced and reputable storm damage contractor to perform repairs. In Central and South MS, that’s Recon Reconstruction. Contact us anytime you need assistance.