Taking the Next Steps After a Hurricane Has Damaged a Church or Religious Facility

Hurricanes can be unpredictable, and it’s not always clear exactly how bad the damage is until you are standing on the church’s property and taking a look for yourself. And while it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or even panicked as your survey the losses, you can’t lose sight of the steps you need to take toward recovery. If you are trying to figure out what happens next, here are some of the most basic steps you should take when you realize your church or religious property has sustained damaged:

• Notify the insurance company of the damage. Even if you haven’t had a chance to fully survey the damages or collect information needed to file a claim, it’s still important to notify your insurer that hurricane losses have occurred. This is also a good time to look into what hurricane damages are covered and what is needed to file a claim.
• Don’t rush into the building right away. Although you may be tempted to rush into a damaged church to try to save what’s left, you should never enter a damaged building until the authorities have declared it safe to do so.  
• Photograph all damages before moving or changing anything. These initial pictures can be valuable evidence that helps you establish your hurricane losses before patches and repairs have been put in place.
• Take temporary measures to mitigate further damage. Although you should hold off on major repairs until the insurance company has completed its assessment, it is important to put up temporary repairs and security measures to protect the property in the meantime.
• Arrange for estimates of the damage the church property sustained. Start arranging for estimates and documentation as soon as possible after a hurricane. Hurricanes can leave a wake of destruction, and it’s not unusual for contractors to have a waiting list for estimates.

If you need help resolving a church insurance claim for hurricane losses, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced legal team today at 888-614-7730. You may also learn more about what to expect from your insurance claim and how insurance companies sometimes act unfairly by reading through a free copy of our eye-opening book, Tricks of the Trade: How Insurance Companies Deny, Delay, Confuse, and Refuse.