INDIANAPOLIS — When a storm hits, minutes matter.
If your homeowner, renter, or car insurance policies are online, either print the declaration pages or screenshot them on your phone.
You don’t want to risk losing power or the internet, and not be able to access them immediately.
Double-check that your coverage is up to date and paid.
Vehicle Coverage
For your vehicle policy, take note of the claims phone number and what your coverage includes.
Mark Friedlander, with the Insurance Information Institute, said collision covers you hitting another car and comprehensive covers damage from everything else.
"Say a tree falls on your car or there's severe icing and that causes damage to your vehicle. That would not be covered if you don't have comprehensive," Friedlander said.
If you decide to add comprehensive coverage, it will take effect immediately.
Friedlander said you also want to check your policy for rental car coverage and roadside assistance.
If you see that you skipped roadside assistance, don't panic.
Your coverage might just be with AAA.
If anything, this is a good time to make sure you are not paying for a service twice.
Homeowner's Policy
As for your homeowner's policy, again, start with your claims phone number on the declaration page.
If your basement gets water, that may or may not be a separate flood policy.
It just depends on why the water is there.
"If the sump pump fails because of a power failure for the entire community, in most cases, that would be covered under your homeowners insurance. That would not be a flood issue. That's different from say, you've got a foot of snow, the snow melted, and it seeped into your basement," Friedlander said.
If you decide to purchase a separate flood policy, keep in mind it will not take effect for 30 days.
Should you need to buy any supplies related to damage, keep track of them for both reimbursement and tax purposes.
Pet Insurance Policy
If you need to board your pet in case of an emergency, some pet insurance policies will reimburse you for that cost.