A storm damage claim is built from a record: dated photographs of the water line and the damage, moisture readings, a list of removed and kept contents, the restoration scope and receipts for emergency work. The insurer decides what it pays under the policy, but a complete file lets it see what happened and when.
Key takeaways
- Photograph the water line, the damage and the contents before anything is moved or cleaned.
- Keep the moisture readings from each visit, because they show when the damage was wet and when it was dried.
- List every removed or disposed-of item, with the reason, the room and a photograph.
- Keep receipts for emergency repairs and temporary protection, and note what each one protected.
- Keep the restoration scope, the removal list and the drying log together in one folder.
- The insurer decides coverage and amount under the policy; the record helps it do so, but does not decide it.
What photographs does a storm claim need?
Take wide photographs of each room, close photographs of the damage, and a photograph of the water line on each wall that shows one. Include the outside of the building, the damaged openings and any outbuilding that took water. Date each photograph and keep the originals.
The water line is the most important shot for a surge loss. Take it on each wall that shows the line, and include a door or a window in the frame so the height can be judged. A second photograph from a little farther back shows where the line sits in the room.
Photograph the outside before anything is cleaned. The outside shows the openings that let the water in, such as a door seal, a vent or a broken skirt, and the insurer will ask how the water entered.
Why are moisture readings part of the claim file?
Moisture readings show which materials were wet, how wet they were and when they reached the dry target. They are the record of the drying, and they show the work done after the loss, not only what the water looked like on the first visit.
Ask the crew for readings from every visit, with the room, the material and the date. The readings show that the building was checked and dried, not only cleaned, and they explain why certain materials were removed.
Keep the readings with the scope. A scope that lists materials removed but has no readings does not show why the removal was needed, and that is the question an insurer is most likely to ask.
How do I list the contents that were damaged?
List each damaged item by room, with a short description, its approximate age if known, whether it was in standing water and whether it was kept, cleaned or disposed of. Attach a photograph to each line where possible, and sign the list when you have checked it.
A list that groups items by room is easier to check than a single long list. Include the items that were in closets and under furniture, since those are often missed on the first pass.
Keep a note of the value of items you are able to estimate, such as the receipts for recent purchases or a manufacturer's record for an appliance. The insurer will use the list and the receipts to test the claim, so the list should be accurate, not generous.
What receipts and invoices should I keep?
Keep receipts for emergency repairs, temporary covers, pumping and equipment hire, and any work the homeowner paid for directly. Note on each receipt what it protected or what it was for, so the insurer can connect the cost to the loss.
A tarp, a temporary board or a plastic cover put over an opening to stop more water is part of protecting the property. Keep the receipt, and note the opening it covered and the date it was put up.
Keep the invoices from the restoration company and from any trade that did repair work. Each invoice should match a line in the scope, so the insurer can see the work the invoice paid for.
How do I keep a timeline of the loss?
Write down the time the water was first seen, the time it was stopped, each call to the insurer and the restoration company, and each visit. A short timeline with dates shows the sequence of events, which is what most claim questions turn on.
Each entry should have the date, the time, the person and the outcome. Note what you were told, not what you assumed, and keep the notes written at the time rather than rebuilt later.
The timeline should also record any delay, such as a wait for the crew, the insurer's adjuster or a contractor. Delays are part of the claim, and an accurate record of them is useful if a complaint is needed.
What does the insurer need from me?
The insurer usually needs the policy number, the claim number, a description of the loss, the photographs, the readings, the scope, the list of contents and the receipts. Send them with an index, and keep a copy of everything sent.
Ask the insurer in writing what it still needs before you send anything extra. A clear request is quicker to answer than a general one, and it shows which documents the file is still missing.
Keep the cover letter and the index with each submission. A numbered index lets both sides see at a glance what has been provided and what is outstanding.
What the record cannot do
The record shows what happened and what was done. It does not decide the claim. Coverage, the amount and the terms are set by the policy and the insurer, and a crew cannot promise the outcome.
A standard homeowner policy generally treats sudden water and flood differently, and the policy wording decides the coverage for each. Read the policy and ask the insurer to explain how it applies to your loss in writing.
A complete record makes a decision easier to check, and it makes a dispute easier to pursue. It cannot make a loss covered that the policy does not cover, and it should not be presented as if it did.
What about the outside of the building?
The outside is part of the record, because it shows the openings that let the water in. Photograph each door, window, vent and skirt that was damaged, and the outside walls at the tide line if there is one. Include the grading and any sand or debris left against the foundation.
Take the outside photographs before any repair or cleaning, and again after the first repair. The insurer will ask how the water entered, and the outside photographs are often the only evidence of the opening. A note with each photograph saying which side of the building it shows keeps the set easy to follow.
How do I record an item's age and value?
For each item, note what it is, the approximate age if you know it, the brand or model where it is printed, and any receipt or purchase record you have. Where you do not know the value, say so, rather than writing a figure you cannot support.
A purchase receipt, a bank record or a warranty card is good evidence of age and cost. For an appliance, the model and serial number on its label can be checked with the manufacturer. Keep the list honest and specific, because a claim that overstates one item is harder to rely on for the rest.
What if the insurer disputes the readings?
The readings are a record of what was measured on a given day with a given meter. If the insurer disputes them, ask which reading it questions, what it would expect to see and whether it wants an independent check. The question is about the material and the target, not about the crew's reputation.
Keep the readings from every visit, not just the last one, so the insurer can see the trend. A falling set of readings across several visits is stronger than a single figure. If the dispute continues, ask for the disagreement to be stated in writing, so it can be answered point by point.
How do I document a damaged room that is still being dried?
A room that is still being dried changes from day to day, so the record has to change with it. Take a set of photographs and readings at each visit, using the same angles, so the change from one visit to the next is visible in the file.
Note the equipment in the room and the time it was placed and moved. A simple dated log of what changed, what was removed and what was dried gives the insurer a clear view of the work over time, and it avoids a dispute about what was done before the final visit.
Why does the timing of the record matter?
A record made at the time of the loss is worth more than one reconstructed weeks later. Memories of the water line, the order of events and the items in a room fade quickly, and a dated photograph or note does not.
Keep the notes on the phone or on paper as the work happens, and transfer them to the file afterward without changing the wording. A later change to a note can look like an attempt to fit the record to the claim, so the original is the one to keep.
Frequently asked questions
How many photographs are enough?
As many as it takes to show each room, each wall with a water line, each damaged item and each opening that let water in. Take them before anything is moved, and take more after each stage of the work.
Should I throw away damaged items before the insurer sees them?
Keep a record of each item and a photograph before disposal, and ask the insurer whether it wants to see any item first. Disposal without a record is the most common way a claim file loses value.
Do I need the restoration company's readings?
Yes. The readings show when each material was wet and when it reached the dry target. They are the main record of the drying, and they are worth asking for at every visit.
Can I use my phone's photographs?
Yes, if they are dated and kept in their original form. Do not edit or crop the originals, and keep a backup copy in a second place.
What if an item was lost in standing water and I cannot photograph it?
Write down what the item was, where it was kept and what it looked like, and add any receipt or purchase record you have. The insurer can accept a written description, and it may ask for more detail.
This guide is general information for Bay County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.