A new problem is facing Texans as mounting climate change disasters threaten those without a Houston homeowners insurance policy. The most recent winter storm incident is just one event in a series of disasters dating back to 2011.
Indeed, one of the most tell-tale signs of changing times is that residents in the mostly arid state of Texas are filing burst pipe damage insurance claims. This leaves many unsure of whether their home insurance policies will properly cover them in case of an unexpected catastrophe.
In any case, it’s important to understand how to deal with a claim and insurance claim adjusters if the need should arise. Knowing what to expect and staying prepared for filing an insurance claim can be crucial to ensuring a fair claim settlement and recovering from a loss.
Trouble in the Lone Star State
Several climate change events have left Texans on their toes, starting in 2011 when a heat wave and subsequent drought dried up the state. Some years later, Hurricane Harvey swept through, dropping an unprecedented amount of rainfall. This alerted many to the importance of flood insurance for their homes.
Almost exactly 1 year ago, a severe winter storm left many Houston residents without power or heat. This event claimed hundreds of lives and caused over 20-billion dollars in damages in the state.
“We always get storm fronts sweeping across Texas from west to east in May and in June,” said Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist for the Nature Conservancy. “That’s normal. We always get severe weather associated with those fronts. That’s normal too. But what’s not normal is the sheer amount of precipitation that’s falling, and that amount is what we can link to a warming world.”
Some insurance companies are also taking note and choosing to protect themselves. For example, 94-year-old Bety Fonrose was notified by her insurer that she would no longer be able to renew her policy. The reason was due to the company trying to reduce their “exposure to catastrophic loss.”
How to Deal with Insurance Claim Adjusters
Needless to say, many people found themselves in a situation where they had to meet with an insurance claim adjuster from their insurance company. Adjusters visit the property and assess exactly how much of the damages can be attributed to an uncontrollable event, and how much may be due to negligence or other exclusions in the insurance policy.
Afterwards, the insurance company makes a decision as to how much they will pay out. This is of course, is also dependent on what the homeowners insurance policy covers, which ideally the policyholder should have full knowledge of – but more often than not, policyholders either do not fully understand their policy, or do not even have a copy of the entire policy.
Local Texas based ClaimsMate Public Adjusters provides insights on handling insurance claims and tips for dealing with adjusters. “Many of our clients are quite surprised to learn that the insurance company is not always on their side. The best tip is to trust your instincts and when in doubt, get a second opinion.” says Richard Chastain, Operation Director at ClaimsMate.
One of the best ways to stay prepared is to keep a detailed inventory of all possessions, including make and model number, as well as how much it cost. In the event of a flood, for example, insurance claim adjusters will want to know the value of what was lost to determine total damages.
Another tip is to document a property through videos and photographs which can also help adjusters understand what state it was in prior to the incident. It also helps to write down or record any conversations with the adjuster for future reference.
For Texans, home insurance is one of the best ways to prepare for uncertainty as climate change develops. While these events cannot be precisely predicted, what is under the control of many homeowners is the ability to choose the policy that best fits them.
