American Insurance Association issued the following announcement on Dec. 13.
Winter Storm Gail is expected to bring heavy snow, strong winds, and some coastal flooding to parts of the mid-Atlantic and northeast starting on Wednesday. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) urges residents to take steps to prepare their property and finances before the major nor’easter arrives.
“Winter storms cause more than $1 billion in insured losses each year, but homeowners can reduce their risk of damage by taking a few simple actions to prepare before Winter Storm Gail’s snow, ice, and wind arrive,” said Jessica Hanson Hanna, senior vice president of public affairs for APCIA. “A burst pipe alone can cause $5,000 in water damages, so it pays to be prepared by taking steps like insulating pipes and letting faucets slowly trickle during extreme cold.”
Burst pipes, damage from falling tree limbs, roof or deck collapses, and car accidents are common winter storm insurance claims. Standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for damage caused by wind, snow, severe cold, and freezing rain. Freezing conditions such as burst pipes or ice dams are covered, however there is generally a requirement that the homeowner has taken reasonable steps to prevent these losses by keeping the house warm and properly maintaining pipes and drains. If your home is damaged during Winter Storm Gail, contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible to file a claim.
Winter Storm Gail will also bring hazardous conditions to roadways and motorists should avoid traveling if possible. If you must be on the road, give yourself extra time when traveling and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. Motorists should also keep an emergency travel kit in their vehicle with items like blankets, jumper cables, a windshield scraper, shovel, flashlight, salt, bottled water, and snacks.
APCIA offers tips for how to prepare your property and finances for Winter Storm Gail:
- Create a home inventory that includes photos of your belongings and the exterior of your home.
- Save your insurer’s or agent’s contact information to your phone in case you need to file a claim.
- Insulate pipes, especially those leading to the outside, and check to see that warm air is flowing around and under sinks.
- Make sure there is clear access to the main water shut-off valve in case there is a leak or a pipe suddenly bursts.
- Open the water faucets enough to allow a slow trickle of water to maintain the flow of water in the lines and help prevent freezing.
- Set the thermostat to maintain a warm temperature inside the home.
- Maintain a three-foot clearance around heating equipment to reduce the risk of fire.
Original source can be found here.
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