Floodwaters can cause significant damage to land, structures, and personal belongings. After a flood, it’s crucial to conduct an assessment. Here are some steps that may be implemented during a formal assessment.

Flood Insurance

Flood insurance can protect a home or business located in an area prone to flooding. It safeguards property owners from bearing the excessive costs associated with rehabilitation projects after a flood.

Filing an Insurance Claim

Before items are professionally assessed, an insurance claim needs to be filed. The claim process involves reporting the incident and providing information about the resulting damage. The information provided should include any preliminary observations made.

The Assessment Process

An insurance adjuster may oversee the assessment performed after flooding. They may also interact with a separate person responsible for assessing the property where the flooding occurred.

Before assessing flooded land and personal property, the person overseeing the assessment must ensure that the land and any structures on it are safe to access.

Assessment Steps

Land and structures will be checked for damage, and plans will be made to dispose of damaged materials. A flood insurance policy may cover the repair and replacement steps needed to rehabilitate a structure or other item damaged during a flood.

The assessment will require a visual and physical inspection of each item that came into contact with floodwaters. Some items may need to be professionally dried and cleaned.