Recovering from Recent Storms: What Connecticut Insurance Consumers Should Know
Recent heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, hail, flooding, and power outages have impacted communities across Connecticut. If your home, vehicle, or business was damaged, the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) encourages you to take the following steps to help protect your property and navigate the insurance claims process.
If You Have Property Damage:
- Contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible to report your claim.
- Take photos and videos of any damage before beginning cleanup, if and when it is safe to do so.
- Make temporary repairs to prevent additional damage and keep receipts for emergency repairs.
- Before making permanent repairs, allow your insurance company an opportunity to inspect the damage and provide guidance on next steps.
- Keep damaged property, when possible, until your insurance company has had an opportunity to inspect it.
- Maintain a list of damaged or destroyed personal property to help support your claim.
- Keep written records of all conversations with your insurer, including dates, names, and summaries of what was discussed.
- Consider creating or updating a home inventory to document your belongings. CID's Home Inventory Checklist can help make this process easier.
Be cautious of contractor fraud after storms. Use licensed professionals, get written estimates, and avoid paying the full amount upfront or signing over your insurance check.
Know Your Coverage
Standard homeowners insurance policies generally do not cover damage caused by flooding. Flood insurance is typically purchased separately through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer and typically requires a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect.
Recent storms highlight that flooding can happen anywhere it rains, not just in areas designated as high-risk flood zones. Consumers are encouraged to review their property's flood risk and review their insurance coverage before the next storm.
Connecticut’s free Climate Risk Mapping Tool allows residents to view property-specific information on flood, wind, wildfire, extreme heat, and other climate-related risks to help inform insurance and preparedness decisions. For additional information about insurance coverage, claims, and protecting your property, visit CID's Consumer Information Center.
Need Assistance?
If you have questions about your insurance coverage or need assistance with a claim, CID's Consumer Affairs Division is available to help. Consumers may contact CID at (860) 297-3900, toll-free at (800) 203-3447, or by email at insurance@ct.gov.
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