TRENTON — As hurricane season begins, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance is reminding residents of steps they can take to prepare for extreme weather events that can threaten their home and property.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with tropical storm activity typically between August and late October. Whether it is wind, heavy rainfall, strong winds, flooding or other weather-related events, residents can take steps to protect their home and property and make sure they are adequately insured.
“Planning ahead for severe weather can reduce the chances of property damage. New Jersey consumers should review and understand their homeowners insurance policy every year to assess their level of coverage, what it covers, and whether it is adequate,” said Commissioner Justin Zimmerman. “Take steps to help protect your home and property ahead of a storm, such as removing loose debris, including tree branches, storing or securing outdoor furniture and gardening equipment, and cleaning out gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage. With the increase in extreme weather events, it is critical to prepare now to protect your home and property.”
Before storms occur, residents also should review any applicable deductibles in their homeowners policies, and also confirm that their properties will be protected from any potential damage and losses.
All homeowners should review their policies to ensure they have the right level of coverage. This is especially important for those who have remodeled or added new construction to their home, which might increase replacement costs. Residents who rent a house or apartment should learn more about purchasing a renters insurance policy if they do not already have one.
Most homeowners insurance typically excludes water damage caused by floods, as does most renters insurance policies. Only flood insurance covers a person’s home and their personal property from floods. Consumers can purchase a flood insurance policy from the federal National Flood Insurance Program, which operates as the primary provider of flood insurance for residential properties. Consumers can find companies offering flood insurance in New Jersey at nj.gov/dobi/division_consumers/insurance/homeownercontacts.htm#flood.
Residents can check if their home is in a high-risk flood zone by consulting FEMA’s flood maps. Even if residents are in a low-risk area, consider flood insurance as flooding can and does happen anywhere.
Other Steps Consumers Can Take
Storm preparation should include making a list of insurance company/agent names, policy numbers and contact information such as phone numbers, websites, mailing addresses and emergency information hotlines. Consumers should keep this information with them during an evacuation in the event their residence is inaccessible after a storm or other weather event. Residents should also take or update their home inventory. Having photos and videos of all major household items and valuables is important when filing insurance claims. Save copies of birth certificates, passports, medical records, and insurance papers in a safe, dry place.
Consumers can find additional information on protecting their property before extreme weather and filing a storm-related claim on the department’s website.
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