If your home is damaged due to a storm, fire, flood or other disaster…

Don’t hesitate to take reasonable steps - right away - to protect your property and to prevent further damage!

Your homeowners coverage usually will reimburse you for these initial expenses. You do not need to wait until you’ve spoken to a Brooks claims representative to take action. Just be sure to keep the receipts for any services performed, or materials purchased…and to contact Brooks as soon as it’s practical to do so. We will then contact your insurance company, advise you of all the coverages available through your policy, and tell you what steps need to be taken next to obtain permanent repairs or replacement.

Here are a few tips that will help you protect your family, prevent more damage from occurring, and anticipate what will be asked when reporting your claim to Brooks:

• Check your water heater, furnace and appliances to make sure they’re functioning and that there are no gas leaks or electrical shortages. If you smell gas, turn off the main gas valve and open your windows until the system can be checked. If there are electrical shortages, shut off the power. Use a flashlight - not candles - to investigate any problems. If you lose power for a length of time, and you have food spoilage, make a list of what items were ruined.
• Inspect all areas of your property, not just the places that immediately appear to be damaged. Systematically check all outside and inside walls and make note of any problem areas. Do not climb up on the roof; however, do try to determine if there is any roof damage that could allow rain or snow to enter your home. Don’t forget to inspect your car, boat or other vehicles.
• Prevent further damage to the interior of your home by boarding up holes, covering windows, or having temporary roof repairs done.
• Dry out and clean wet furnishings as soon as possible. Use a wet vac to extract water, and a bleach-and-water solution to prevent the spread of mold and mildew in affected areas. Use a fan to help dry things out faster. If you are unable to remove the water, call in a professional and ask for basic water extraction service, only, until you know for sure what else your policy may cover.
• Stay away from downed trees and branches that could be touching power lines or are perched in an unstable position. Only a qualified professional should remove them from your property. When reporting your claim, be prepared to explain whether or not the tree has hit a structure, what caused it to fall, and if it’s your tree or the neighbor’s. All of these factors affect how, and if, insurance coverage applies.
• Spend the night in a hotel or motel if it is dangerous to stay in your home, or if damages make it uninhabitable. This is generally a covered expense and you do not need to get permission from your insurer before doing so. When you do contact Brooks, you will be advised about what coverage is available to you for continued temporary housing.
• Keep a running list of all items damaged, as you discover them, so that you can report them in a thorough manner. Recognize that you may not detect all damages immediately or remember everything that’s been lost or destroyed right away. (That’s why it’s so important to maintain—and store off-site—an up-to-date list or videotape of your furnishings, equipment and other belongings!) 
• Call the Brooks Insurance Agency Claims Department at 419.243.1191.