10 after-the-disaster do's and don'ts

By MSN Money staff with wire reports

If you're in a hurricane's path, it's never too early to think about how to land on your feet once it's over. There will be the aftermath -- the mud, the flooding, the wind damage and a mess so complete that it will be hard to know where to begin putting things right.

Should your home be damaged, resist the temptation to flee and deal with it later. Your mission -- and you'd better accept it -- is to call your insurers and get the claim ball rolling. The sooner you report damage, the sooner you get to cash the check.

Immediately after the storm

• Drive only if necessary. Debris and floodwaters may be covering roads, making them impassable.

• Stay on firm ground. Moving water only 6 inches deep can sweep you off your feet. Standing water may also be electrically charged from downed power lines.

• Beware of snakes, insects and other animals driven to higher ground by floodwaters.

• Enter your home with extreme caution. Beware of fallen objects or damaged roofs and walls.

• Use flashlights for light. Do not use matches, torches, candles or other open flames.

• Check gas, water and electrical lines for damage. Do not try to repair damaged gas or electrical lines yourself; call a professional. Check appliances as well.

• Do not drink or prepare food with tap water until you are certain it is not contaminated.

• If your home was flooded, flush plumbing fixtures with water. Have health authorities inspect your sanitary disposal system.

• Do not eat food that came into contact with floodwaters.

• For insurane purposes, take pictures of all damage before starting cleanup or repairs.

• Never connect portable generators to your house. Use them only to run necessary appliances. Keep them outside when in use; the exhaust can be deadly in enclosed areas.

• Remove shutters or plywood, and open windows and doors, to ventilate or dry your home if necessary.

• Wear protective clothing while cleaning up debris. Wear rubber gloves while scrubbing flood-damaged interiors and furniture.

Call right away

Calling the insurance company will put your claim on record and also may get you some emergency aid, such as workers to help pump out a flooded basement.

You can contact your agent by phone or e-mail, but it is a good idea to also mail a letter notifying the company and outlining the loss. Getting proof of delivery will let you off the hook if, for some reason, your report goes unrecorded, and there is some question concerning timing of the claim.

Hunt down your insurance policies

Ideally, you would have collected these policies in a safe place beforehand. Now is the time to get them out. This includes not just your homeowners, wind and flood policies, but also auto and health policies. You need them all because some policies may include overlapping coverage. Read the fine print of each carefully, especially the part in your homeowners policy titled "Duties After a Loss."

Don't take the naive attitude that your insurance company will take care of everything.

"Even if you have a good, proactive company, you have obligations," says James Walsh, author of "Get Your Claim Paid."

And with all of your policies in hand, when things settle down, consider which revisions you want -- or need -- to make in case there ever is a next time.

For example, can you get a more reasonable deductible? In at least 15 coastal states stretching from Maine to Texas, the hurricane-related wind-damage deductible (especially on newer policies) probably isn't a flat amount. It usually equals 2% to 5% of your home's insured value, meaning that if you have a $200,000 policy, you'll have to cover as much as $10,000 in hurricane-related damage before your homeowners policy kicks in. Some companies will allow you to pay a higher premium to lower the percentage or, in some cases, get a flat-dollar deductible. Some insurers even allow changes with as little as 24 hours notice. Call your agent and ask. The worst the company can do is say no.

Continued: Check your property thoroughly

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