A hard freeze warning is in effect for our area, Wednesday through Saturday of this week. While this cold snap does not appear to be anything last year’s Winter Storm Uri, you should be prepared for the harsh weather, nonetheless.
Here are a few tips to help you prepare:
- Check on your neighbors, especially if you lose power and especially the elderly. People matter most.
- Insulate any exposed pipes and cover your outside faucets
- Cover your plants or bring them inside when possible
- Make sure your pets have a warm place to stay.
- Let your faucets drip during freezing temps
- Open the cabinets under your sinks to allow heat to enter
In the event you lose power for an extended period of time, here are few items we recommend you have on-hand:
- Charged power bank to charge phone/tablet and small devises.
- Clothing and accessories to stay warm, blankets, hats, mittens, coats
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Not need to panic buy food or supplies, but it’s good have easy-made food/snacks on-hand.
Here are the step you should take if you experience damage to your home:
- First and foremost, BE SAFE.
- If you have a busted/ruptured pipe, turn off your main water supply as quickly and safely as possible to mitigate further damage.
- Contact your utility immediately if you see a downed power line or smell gas.
- Take pictures. Lots of them to document the damage you experience
- Help prevent further damage by making any necessary/temporary repairs as long it’s safe to do so.
- Save any receipts relating to your loss. Even temporary repairs / hotel stays, etc.
- File your claim as soon as you can. You can contact your carrier directly or submit your claim details on our website here:
Leal Insurance Services – Claims Submission
If you don’t already know, you should review your policy for coverage and deductible information so you know what your responsibility is in the event of a claim. Your deductible is listed in your policy’s Declaration Page or contact your agent for the info.
What do you as we begin to warm back up:
- Check your exterior pipes regularly over the coming days/weeks.
- Look for water spots in the ceiling or walls. This might indicate a busted pipe and you will want to address it quickly to prevent a large water loss.
- Be care as you walk on exterior slick surfaces as ice melts away
If you do experience a loss and are looking to hire a contractor to repair damages, please, please, PLEASE make sure the contractor is a reputable, local, and insured. DO NOT pay the contractor in full “in order to secure your spot” on their calendar. Insurance companies have no way of getting you your money back or reimbursing you for that kind of theft.
Lastly, we all know that claims can be a such an inconvenience and time suck. We are happy to help you assess whether your loss will exceed your deductible and advocate for you when you need to file a claim. Do not hesitate to get us involved if there is something you don’t understand or need help facilitating a phone call with your claims adjustor. If you’d like to discuss possibly filing a claim, you can schedule some time with us here:
Leal Insurance Services – Claim Discussion
Please be patient as claims teams handle what will surely be a catastrophic number of claims in the next few days and weeks. Remember that claims adjustors are people too.