Winter can be magical; however, heavy snow accumulation can cause power outages, structural damage to roofs and homes, fallen trees, ice dams, and flooding. If your home has been impacted by snowfall, you should take immediate action to resolve it.
Stay Safe
The first thing you should do is find shelter elsewhere. Homes damaged by snow may present leaks, warped ceilings or cracks that appear and run along interior walls. A home with snow damage is unstable; stay safe by staying elsewhere.
Contact Your Homeowners Insurance Company
Provide detailed notes when calling your homeowners insurance. They will need to know the circumstances, what was damaged, and when. The more information you can give them, the better.
Your insurance policy likely covers some damage caused by snow, including homes damaged by falling trees and collapsed roofs. However, not all policies cover flood damage from melted snow or ice dams. Your insurance agent can tell you what your particular plan covers.
Clean Up and Record Your Losses
You can begin to carefully clean up your property. Take pictures and document the damages. Remove fallen trees and take care of anything that may cause further damage to your home. An adjuster will look at the property and determine the amount you will receive to make repairs or replace what was lost.
Snow damage can incur significant costs; however, by following these steps, you will be on your way to receiving a fair settlement amount and repairing your home.