Six Tips After a Hurricane
1. First off, know your rights.
After a hurricane, you may have issues with your church and property ranging from determining who is responsible for cleaning up to knowing when to keep making rent or mortgage payments. Because state laws and individual insurance policies vary, check with your insurance company or local authorities to know what applies in your situation.
2. Know who to contact.
Unfortunately, natural disasters can have a way of impacting all facets of our lives – personally, financially and legally. So we’ve compiled a list of websites and phone numbers to help with different situations. It’s not all-inclusive, but hopefully gives you a place to start.
Replacing vital documents:
1-844-872-4681
Legal aid:
Disaster assistance:
Insurance questions:
http://www.floir.com/
Banking questions/issues
https://www.fdic.gov/news/disaster/irma.html
3. Watch for consumer scams.
Many times after a natural disaster, it’s possible that price gouging, refinancing schemes or home repair scams will pop up. To help guard against these incidents, make sure you:
Don’t pay any money without reviewing and signing a contract.
Ask for references, proof of insurance and licensing as required by your city and/or state.
Resist any pressure to make quick or uninformed financial decisions.
4. Protect against identity theft.
If your home was severely damaged, your belongings misplaced or you were required to leave your residence, you may be at risk for identity theft. You may want to consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report so creditors will follow specific procedures before opening new accounts in your name or making changes to existing accounts. To activate a fraud alert, call one of the three main nationwide reporting companies at the numbers listed below.
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
- Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
A fraud alert is a federal right for victims of identity theft, and there’s no cost to you to activate one. It allows creditors to get your report information as long as they take steps to verify your identity.
To place an initial fraud alert, contact one of three credit bureaus and let them know you believe you’re a victim of identity theft. Confirm that the bureau you speak to will share the alert with the other two (it’s the law that they do) and know that the initial alert will be active for 90 days.
5. Avoid a contractor dispute.
If your church or property was damaged, chances are you’ll be working with one or several contractors. To help make sure things go smoothly:
Make sure a contract is in place before work begins – and have it reviewed by an attorney beforehand.
Ensure the contract itemizes all costs for labor as well as supplies, along with a defined timeline for completion.
Choose a reputable contractor who can furnish references, licensing and proof of insurance
6. Manage an insurance dispute.
You will probably be working with a combination of insurance companies (commercial, auto, medical, etc.) to get your church life back in order. Filing claims and getting reimbursed for lost or damaged items can be a lengthy and frustrating process.
To help you work through it:
If possible, review your policies so you are familiar with the terms, deductibles and provisions.
Make sure you track the times and dates of all phone calls, who you talked to and the subject.
Save all emails and documents you receive.
Respond quickly to all written and electronic correspondence.
Do your best to remain patient and informative.
Remember we are here to help.
