Gov. Matt Blunt said this week that representatives from the Consumer Services section of the Missouri Department of Insurance will be visiting areas of the state hardest hit by the recent severe weather.
Major insurers State Farm Insurance Company and Allstate Corp. declared Missouri a Catastrophe area after tornadoes and windstorms caused serious damage to homes and autos throughout the state last weekend. Ten people were killed in a five-state area when more than 400 tornadoes hit early Sunday morning.
“Missourians impacted by the recent storms will have several questions about their insurance policies in the upcoming days and weeks,” Dale Finke, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, said. “I’m pleased that the knowledge and expertise of this department’s staff will be used to help fellow Missourians in need.”
Residents of communities can meet with department representatives to learn more about their coverage under a particular policy and ensure that their insurance company is following proper claim procedures, a department spokesperson said.
The department provides these tips to all residents affected by the recent severe weather:
Don’t make any repairs to your property until your insurance company’s adjuster arrives.
Only make temporary changes that will protect your property from further loss or damage, and be sure to keep receipts for all materials and labor used in these repairs.
Prepare a detailed property inventory. Make a list of all valuables and equipment destroyed or damaged.
If possible, find copies of your insurance policies. Reference these when you have questions for your insurance company or consumer service representatives from the department.
Missouri Department of Insurance Consumer Service representatives will be available for questions at the following locations this Thursday and
Friday:
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Nixa
Bridge Church
308 West Mt. Vernon
noon – 5 p.m.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Nixa
Bridge Church
308 West Mt. Vernon
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monroe City
Monroe Senior Center
124 East Main
9 a.m. – noon
Madison
Madison Area Community Building
115 South Main
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
The Department advises that you call your insurance company to see if they have a packet of information that can guide you through the recovery and claim processes.
If you have any further questions, call the department’s Consumer Services Hotline at 1-800-726-7930 or check out the Surviving Severe Weather brochure on the department’s Web site at http://www.insurance.mo.gov/consumer/weather/weather.pdf.
Source: Missouri Department of Insurance
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