Washington Insurance Council

                  Consumer Alert

Karl Newman, President
Darrin Sanger, Communications Director
Washington Insurance Council
Phone: (206) 624-3330
Fax: (206) 624-1975
karl.newman@wiconline.org
darrin.sanger@wiconline.org

WINDSTORM DAMAGE: ARE YOU COVERED?

SEATTLE - Yesterday's windstorm that lashed the Puget Sound area has left downed trees, debris and thousands without power. If you're insured, you're fortunate.

Depending on your coverages, you can rely on your insurance company to shoulder much of the cost to repair any damage to your home or vehicle.

"People who have damage to their homes or cars need to contact their insurance companies," said Karl Newman, president of WIC. "Filing a claim quickly enables your insurance company to get to you sooner.

"It's also critically important to know what you should and shouldn't do following a storm," Newman added.

The Washington Insurance Council offers these tips to help speed the process of getting your life back to normal if your home or vehicle was damage:

What to do if your home or vehicle is damaged:
w Be alert for downed power lines, shattered glass, splintered wood or other dangerous objects. Document damage and take pictures.
w If safe to do so, make temporary repairs to prevent further loss from rain or wind.
w Save receipts for reimbursement.
w Contact your insurance representative as soon as possible.
w Use only licensed, reputable building contractors and be sure they get the proper building permits.

What to avoid if your home or vehicle is damaged:
w Avoid contractors who ask for a large deposit up front or bids that are remarkably low. This may indicate a willingness to cut corners or leave work unfinished.
w Don't pay a lot for temporary repairs unless authorized by your insurance adjuster. You could get stuck with the bill if the repairs are deemed excessive. w Don't discard anything that is damaged until it has been examined by your adjuster. You could miss out on coverage for that item.

What's typically covered:
Home
w Damage to your home from wind and falling trees.
w Removal of trees that have fallen on buildings.
w Damaged personal property (both home and renters) inside a damaged building.
w If you can't occupy your primary residence due to damage from the storm - specified additional living expenses such as increased housing costs, extra food costs, furniture rental, and storage fees.
w Costs for reasonable temporary repairs to prevent further damage to the building or contents.

Vehicles
w Damage to your vehicle from wind and falling trees - if you purchased optional Comprehensive Coverage.

What's typically not covered:
Home
w Personal property outside the home such as bikes, canoes, or lawn furniture.
w Removal of trees that have fallen in your yard without damaging a building.
w Upgrades that weren't part of your home before the storm.

Vehicles
w Damage to your vehicle if you don't have Comprehensive Coverage.

Washington Insurance Council is a nonprofit, consumer education organization funded by member insurance companies.

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