NC Residents Advised To Review Homeowners Insurance Now

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America is urging North Carolina homeowners to take precautions now to prepare for Hurricane Florence, projected to make landfall along the Carolina coast by Thursday.

“PCI encourages property owners to take precautions to protect themselves and their belongings from direct and indirect impacts any of these developing storms could have on homes and businesses,” Nancy Egan, PCI’s North Carolina regional manager, said in a statement.

Flooding from storm surge during hurricanes and tropical storms can be especially dangerous for residents along the coast. While standard homeowners policies cover a multitude of losses, they do not cover flood damage, which requires separate coverage purchased at least 30 days before it goes into effect.

“Unless the cause of loss is excluded in the policy, a typical homeowners policy provides coverage for personal liability, medical payments to others, and accidental direct physical loss to your dwelling,” said Michal Brower, spokesperson for State Farm. “In addition, the policy provides coverage for your personal property for specific perils including, but not limited to: fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, and theft.”

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PCI recommends taking the following precautions:

• Review your property insurance policy, especially the “declarations” page, and check whether your policy pays replacement costs, or actual cash value for a covered loss.
• Inventory your household items, and photograph or videotape them for further documentation. Keep this information and your insurance policies in a safe place.
• Keep the name, address and claims-reporting telephone number of your insurer and agent in a safe and easily accessible place.
• Protect your property by covering all windows with plywood or shutters, moving vehicles into the garage when possible and placing grills and patio furniture indoors.
• Keep all receipts for any repairs so your insurance company can reimburse you.
• Check with your insurance adjuster for referrals to professional restoration, cleaning and salvage companies if additional assistance is needed.
• Make sure watercraft are stored in a secure area, like a garage or covered boat dock. A typical homeowner’s policy will cover property damage in limited instances for small watercraft, and separate boat policies will provide broader, more extensive property and liability protection for larger, faster boat, yachts, jet skis and wave runners.

RELATED:

• Hurricane Florence: Evacuations Begin Along NC Coast
• Hurricane Florence: How North Carolina Can Prepare
• Hurricane Florence: Warning Of ‘Life-threatening Impacts' In NC

Patch Editor D’Ann Lawrence White contributed

Photo of Hurricane Florence via National Weather Service/National Hurricane Center