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Will your insurance policy protect you from disaster?

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    Tips on what you need to know

  • Duration 4:14
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Re efforts we have there's just learned -- United States is it FEMA headquarters in Washington DC meeting with cabinet.

Officials to discuss disaster relief which to many.

-- is slow this comes to south winds are expected to file insurance claims to recover some of what they lost after their homes and cars were damaged or destroyed.

Well what do you need to know to make the most of this awful situation -- us right now from Washington DC is.

Bob -- -- CEO of the independent insurance agents and brokers of America Bob warranty.

Good to be with you Steve I would imagine you were agents throughout the northeast the phone's been ringing off the hook over the last five days.

Hundreds of thousands of claims coming into trusted choice independent insurance agents all over the northeast and I just wanna say it Brian that we're with you in spirit.

It is mind boggling with the people of Long Island Staten Island and new Jersey Shore -- going through.

Absolutely Brian Austin the first floor on his house we're gonna show some of the pictures here about five minutes.

Some of the stuff is no brainer if you've got in church you know that you should file a claim contact your agent.

You know if you can find the guys -- the gals a phone number that's important acutely because some things if people have damage for instance they they get a tree it.

Without poke a hole in the roof get the tree off -- up through figure can't and then put a TARP on the right try to protect yourself.

Absolutely the first thing you should do is take pictures or video if you can find your cell phone.

To document because it makes the claims process go quicker but yes.

Our repair anything that you can do that will cause more damage later on if you have a hole in your roof put a TARP -- -- So if it rains again you don't have more damage make sure you keep your receipts.

You're going to be reimbursed for those expenses and you want the claims process to go as quickly as possible.

Bob I'm gonna -- note to the director Brian Kilmeade has a question for Bob go ahead and ask him.

I'd just say what is the deal Bob can you throw a lot appliances it clearly are damaging compromise.

Can you throw out couch is and that are are a mess and chairs furniture.

Yes and that -- before you do anything.

Make sure you get your claims adjuster on the site that claims adjuster will tell you what you can do and can't do those don't do -- what's not covered so we don't know what -- don't do it.

-- you should not do it however use common sense for instance if your sofa is soaking wet.

-- it move it outside to replace -- can dry out that's fine but don't throw out a way make sure you keep in keep pictures of it as well.

Right but -- unfortunate is looting going on with that so a lot of times you leave it out you know seeing the house has gone the next day.

Will they be understandable -- that.

Yes I gotta tell you -- that insurance claims adjusters have our our pros at this kinda stuff if they can get to the property and that's one of the things that people have to understand.

Is that many times the police or bridges or roads are washed out the adjusters can't get on site.

But generally they are very understanding of the situation they've seen this before in the work with him.

-- Bob -- one final point and it Brian was lucky enough he did have flood insurance but a lot of people think well I've got homeowner's insurance surely this is gonna cover me.

For that stuff that we're looking at right now not necessarily right.

That's right -- a Smart.

Guy.

And under what what is your life.

Street -- well I actually obviously but one of the problems is that a lot of homeowners do not take flood insurance.

The average flood insurance policy nationwide is just around 600 dollars.

But the general homeowners policy does not include flood damage.

So anybody that had flood damage in your house from sandy.

If you don't have it it you -- are covered for so you've got to look at the Small Business Administration FEMA government agencies for low interest loans.

And just one quick exit question Bob and that is if your car is damaged by the rising floodwaters are you automatically covered.

If you have comprehensive coverage remember there's collision comprehension and liability.

If you have comprehensive cup coverage if -- covered 76%.

Of all Americans have comprehensive coverage of so most Americans will be covered for that damage all right public got lots questions thanks for joining us tonight good to be with you Steve -- straight ahead.

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