A severe and unusual storm for this time of year caused ten tornados to sweep across Alabama in the pre-dawn hours of Monday, January 23, 2012, leaving behind serious damage, destruction and chaos.
Two of the more powerful tornadoes touched down in Jefferson County, in the cities of Clay and Center Point. After a survey of the damage in Jefferson County, the National Weather Service reported that the damage in Clay, Alabama indicated that the tornado was an EF-3 with winds of 150 mph.
Tornado Storm Damage Claims
After living through a tornado, you may just be thankful to be alive and to hug your loved ones. However, the reality of filing an Alabama tornado claim will soon kick in. As a tornado survivor, you will have many things to do following a serious storm, such as cleanup, collecting personal belongings, securing your damaged home, and filing a residential insurance claim.
Because the Alabama storm damage insurance claims are predicted to reach between $15 - $30 million, it is important that you, as a homeowner or business owner, file a tornado insurance claim in the days following the storm. This way, your insurance claim can get processed as quickly as possible.
When insurers are expecting to pay out millions of dollars in damages, they tend to question everything, delay payments or deny claims all together. Don’t let this happen to you. This is why it is critical that you have a plan in place and that you contact a skilled insurance claim attorney for help with your residential insurance claim today. Three important tips include:
- Before removing anything from your home, take photographs or video tape the damage the storm caused.
- Make a list of any personal property items that were damaged, and include purchase prices and estimated replacement costs. You may be able to get duplicate statements from your credit card companies or banks that will show the adjuster how much you spent on a major purchase, like a television or computer, that was damaged in the tornado.
- Secure your damaged home so that no further damages can occur. For example, you may need to board up windows or hang up tarps to keep water and moisture out. Keep receipts of anything you purchase for the home so that your insurer can reimburse you for the expenses.
