Financial Help for those effected by Hurricane Dean.
Below is an overview of some of the places you can go to get help for the financial burden you are sure to encounter because of Hurricane Dean.
Insurance:
Loss of use coverage is a part of your home owners or renter's policies that helps defray a large portion of the money spent for lodging and other expenses incurred due to the loss of use of your residence. It pays the cost of reasonable motel bills, meals, and other basic living expenses minus the amount you would normally spend for daily living expenses. Check your policy for limits. You should retain records of all your expenses and a diary or log of your situation to substantiate your claim.
The "Loss of Use" coverage only pertains to you if the reason you are denied use of your residence is a covered peril making your residence uninhabitable. In some cases, if the insurance company deems the peril is related to flood, you may be denied this benefit. The best thing to do is to check with your agent or company's claim department.
This "loss of use" coverage is generally limited to 20 percent of a policy´s personal property coverage. For example, if you have $25,000 in personal property coverage, your loss-of-use coverage would be $5,000.
Refrigerated Products
Another piece of coverage, that many of you should be aware of, is an item called "Refrigerated Products." Most policies include coverage for loss of the contents of a freezer as a consequence of a power failure and often the deductible does not apply against this coverage.
Of course the main types of loss you will encounter is property damage and all policies should provide coverage of this type.
Below is a list of 1-800 claim numbers and other helpful numbers to help you in filing a claim or learning about your coverage:
For answers to general insurance questions call the Consumer Help Line between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Central time, Monday-Friday
1-800-252-3439
463-6515 in Austin
St. Paul Travelers will dispatch three Mobile Claim Headquarters -- custom-built RVs designed as mobile insurance claim offices that can provide claims services immediately following a disaster to the areas impacted by Dean immediately after the storm.
St. Paul Travelers claims professionals are available to take customer claims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customers are encouraged to report their loss directly by calling these numbers: Travelers Home and Auto Claims: 800.CLAIM33 (800.252.4633)
Travelers Flood Claims: 800.356.6663
Travelers Boat/Yacht Claims: 800.772.4482
St. Paul Travelers and Travelers Business Claims: 800.238.6225
St. Paul Business Claims: 800.STPAUL1 (800.787.2851)
Allstate Policy Holders call 1-800-54-STORM
AAA Policy holders file claims by calling AAA Texas claims hotline at 1-800-672-5246.
USAA Policy holder call 1-800-531-8222
Others Insurance Companies in alphabetical order:
ACE USA Clients receive individual 800 numbers or call 800 433-0385
Acuity 800-242-7666
Aegis Security Insurance Company 800-233-2160
AIG Agency Auto 888-244-6163
Alfa Insurance Group 888-964-2532
Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation 866-239-AMIC
Allmerica 800-628-0250
Allstate 800-54-STORM (800-547-8676)
Allstate Floridian Insurance Company 800-54-STORM (800-547-8676)
American Bankers Insurance Company 800-245-1505
American Federation Insurance Company 800-527-3907
American General Property Insurance Company of Florida 800-321-2452
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) 877-AIG-0304
American Modern 800-543-2644
American National Property & Casualty Company & Affiliates 800-333-2861
American Reliable Insurance Company 800-245-1505
American Skyline Insurance Company 888-298-5224
American Strategic Insurance 866-ASI-L OSS (274-5677)
American Superior Insurance 954-577-2202
American Western Insurance Co. – Personal & Commercial- 800-264-8085 x 359
AmFed National Insurance Company – Homeowners – 800-264-8085 ext 359
Arch Insurance 800-817-3252
Armed Forces Insurance Exchange 800-828-7736
Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company 800-945-7461
Atlantic Preferred Insurance Company 800-673-4952
Audubon Flood Insurance Program / National Flood Service 800-759-8656
Auto Owners Insurance Group (Palm City) 800-783-1269
Auto Owners Insurance Group (Ft. Meyers) 800-437-2256
AXA Re Property and Casualty 800-216-3711
Balboa Insurance Group 888-868-2096
Bankers Insurance Company 800-765-9700
Bankers Security Insurance Company 800-765-9700
Bituminous 800-475-4477
Brierfield Insurance Company 800-530-7800
Bristol West Insurance Group 800-BRISTOL
Capital Preferred 800-734-4749 or 888-388-2742
Catawba Insurance 800-711-9386
Century Surety Insurance Company 800-850-0422
CHUBB Insurance Group 800-252-4670 (800-CLAIMS-0)
Church Mutual Insurance 800-554-2642
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. 866-411-2742 (866-411-CPIC)
Cincinnati Insurance Company 1-877-242-2544
Clarendon National Insurance Company 800-216-3711
Clarendon Select Insurance Company 800-509-1592
CNA 877-262-2727
Colony Insurance Company 800-577-6614 ext. 1715
Companion Property & Casualty 800-649-2948
Cotton States Mutual Group 800-282-6536
CRC Insurance Services fax 205-986-6384
CUNA Mutual 800-637-2676
Cypress 888-352-9773
EMC Insurance Companies 800-910-4988
Encompass Insurance Company 800-588-7400
Erie Insurance Group 800-367-3743
Farmers 800-435-7764
FCCI 800-226-3224
Federal Mutual 888-333-4949
Federated National Insurance Company 800-420-7075
FEMA 800-621-3362 (800-621-FEMA)
Fidelity & Casualty Insurance Company 800-725-9472
Fidelity National Insurance Company 800-220-1351
Fidelity National Property and Casualty Insurance Company 800-725-9472
Fireman's Fund 888-347-3428 (888-FIREHAT)
First Floridian 800-252-4633 (800-CLAIM33) (personal); 800-238-6225 (business)
First Premium Insurance Group (Lloyd's Mobile Home) 800-432-3072
First Protective Insurance Company 877-744-5224
First Trenton 800-468-7341
FM Global 877-639-5677 (877-NEWLOSS)
Foremost Insurance Company 800-527-3907
GE Employers Re 866-413-8978
GEICO 800-841-3000
General Casualty 888-737-8256
General Star Indemnity Company 800-624-5237
General Star National Insurance Company 800-624-5237
GMAC Insurance (Auto Claims) 800-468-3466
Granada Insurance Company 800-392-9966
Great American 800-221-7274
Guide One 888-748-4326
Hanover Insurance (Allmerica) 800-628-0250
Harbor Insurance Company 800-216-3711
The Hartford 800-243-5860
Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest 800-637-5410 or 800-243-5860
Hartford Steam 800-HSB-LOSS
Holyoke Mutual 800-225-2533
ICAT 866-789-4228
Industrial Risk Insurers 860-520-7347 (Business claims)
Interstate Fire & Casualty 800-456-8458, ext. 770
Kemper Home & Auto 888-252-2799
Lafayette Insurance Company 800-343-9131
Lexington Insurance Company 800-931-9546
Liberty Mutual 800-2CLAIMS (800-225-2467)
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation 800-931-9548
Louisiana Farm Bureau 866-275-7322
Main Street America Group 877-282-3844
Mercury Insurance Group 800-987-6000
MetLife Auto & Home 800-854-6011
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 800-427-4661
National Insurance Company 800-239-2121
Nationwide 800-421-3535
North Pointe Insurance Company 877-878-1991
Ohio Casualty and West American Insurance Company 888-701-8727
Old Dominion Insurance Company 877-425-2467 or 800-606-7992
Omaha Property & Casualty 800-638-2592 (Flood only)
Omega Insurance Company 800-216-3711
OneBeacon 877-248-4968
Poe Financial Group 800-673-4952
Progressive Auto Insurance 800-PROGRESSIVE (766-4737)
QualSure Insurance Corp. 877-563-0150
Regency (Tower Hill) 800-216-3711
Republic Fire & Casualty 800-451-0286
Republic Group 800-451-0286
Republic Underwriters (Commercial) 800-451-0286
RLI Insurance Company 800-84-ROYAL (800-444-0406)
Royal & SunAlliance 800-847-6925
Safeco 800-332-3226
Safeway Insurance Company – 800-252-3251
Sagamore Insurance – Personal Auto 800-317-9402
Sagamore Insurance – Small Fleet 800-224-1221
Scottsdale Insurance Company 800-423-7675
Security National Insurance Company 800-BRISTOL
Selective 866-455-9969
Service Insurance Company 800-780-8423
Shelter Insurance Group 800-SHELTER (800-743-5837)
Sompo Japan 800-444-6870
Southern Family Insurance Company 800-673-4952
Southern Fidelity 866-874-7342
Southern Insurance Company (Commercial) 800-451-0286
Southern Underwriters (Commercial) 800-451-0286
Southwest Business Corp. 800-527-0066 ext. 7389
St. Johns Insurance Company 800-748-2030
St. Paul Insurance Companies 800-CLAIM 33 (800-252-4633)
St. Paul Travelers 800-CLAIM33 (800-252-4633)
State Auto 888-766-1853
State Farm Insurance 800-SF-CLAIM (800-732-5246)
Sunshine State Insurance Company 877-329-8795
TAPCO 888-437-0373
Texas Farm Bureau 800-772-6535
Tower Hill Insurance Companies 800-216-3711 or 800-509-1592
Travelers 800-252-4633 (800-CLAIM 33)
Travelers Boat & Yacht 800-772-4482
Travelers WC 800-238-6225
United Fire Insurance Company 800-343-9131
United Property and Casualty Company 800-861-4370
Union Standard Insurance Group 800-444-0049
Universal Insurance Company 888-846-7647
USAA 800-531-8222
USF&G 800-787-2851; 800-631-6478 (homeowners claims)
USLI 800-523-5545
Vanguard Fire & Casualty Company 888-343-5585
Voyager Insurance Company 800-245-1505
XL Insurance 800-688-1840
Zenith 800-440-5020
Zurich Insurance Company 800-987-3373
FEMA Info on what happens after You apply for disaster assistance?
FEMA will mail you a copy of your application and a copy of "Help After a Disaster: Applicant's Guide to the Individuals and Households Program" that will answer many of your questions.
Below is an overview of some of the places you can go to get help for the financial burden you are sure to encounter because of Hurricane Dean.
Insurance:
Loss of use coverage is a part of your home owners or renter's policies that helps defray a large portion of the money spent for lodging and other expenses incurred due to the loss of use of your residence. It pays the cost of reasonable motel bills, meals, and other basic living expenses minus the amount you would normally spend for daily living expenses. Check your policy for limits. You should retain records of all your expenses and a diary or log of your situation to substantiate your claim.
The "Loss of Use" coverage only pertains to you if the reason you are denied use of your residence is a covered peril making your residence uninhabitable. In some cases, if the insurance company deems the peril is related to flood, you may be denied this benefit. The best thing to do is to check with your agent or company's claim department.
This "loss of use" coverage is generally limited to 20 percent of a policy´s personal property coverage. For example, if you have $25,000 in personal property coverage, your loss-of-use coverage would be $5,000.
Refrigerated Products
Another piece of coverage, that many of you should be aware of, is an item called "Refrigerated Products." Most policies include coverage for loss of the contents of a freezer as a consequence of a power failure and often the deductible does not apply against this coverage.
Of course the main types of loss you will encounter is property damage and all policies should provide coverage of this type.
Below is a list of 1-800 claim numbers and other helpful numbers to help you in filing a claim or learning about your coverage:
For answers to general insurance questions call the Consumer Help Line between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Central time, Monday-Friday
1-800-252-3439
463-6515 in Austin
St. Paul Travelers will dispatch three Mobile Claim Headquarters -- custom-built RVs designed as mobile insurance claim offices that can provide claims services immediately following a disaster to the areas impacted by Dean immediately after the storm.
St. Paul Travelers claims professionals are available to take customer claims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customers are encouraged to report their loss directly by calling these numbers:
Allstate Policy Holders call 1-800-54-STORM
AAA Policy holders file claims by calling AAA Texas claims hotline at 1-800-672-5246.
USAA Policy holder call 1-800-531-8222
Others Insurance Companies in alphabetical order:
ACE USA Clients receive individual 800 numbers or call 800 433-0385
Acuity 800-242-7666
Aegis Security Insurance Company 800-233-2160
AIG Agency Auto 888-244-6163
Alfa Insurance Group 888-964-2532
Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation 866-239-AMIC
Allmerica 800-628-0250
Allstate 800-54-STORM (800-547-8676)
Allstate Floridian Insurance Company 800-54-STORM (800-547-8676)
American Bankers Insurance Company 800-245-1505
American Federation Insurance Company 800-527-3907
American General Property Insurance Company of Florida 800-321-2452
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) 877-AIG-0304
American Modern 800-543-2644
American National Property & Casualty Company & Affiliates 800-333-2861
American Reliable Insurance Company 800-245-1505
American Skyline Insurance Company 888-298-5224
American Strategic Insurance 866-ASI-L OSS (274-5677)
American Superior Insurance 954-577-2202
American Western Insurance Co. – Personal & Commercial- 800-264-8085 x 359
AmFed National Insurance Company – Homeowners – 800-264-8085 ext 359
Arch Insurance 800-817-3252
Armed Forces Insurance Exchange 800-828-7736
Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company 800-945-7461
Atlantic Preferred Insurance Company 800-673-4952
Audubon Flood Insurance Program / National Flood Service 800-759-8656
Auto Owners Insurance Group (Palm City) 800-783-1269
Auto Owners Insurance Group (Ft. Meyers) 800-437-2256
AXA Re Property and Casualty 800-216-3711
Balboa Insurance Group 888-868-2096
Bankers Insurance Company 800-765-9700
Bankers Security Insurance Company 800-765-9700
Bituminous 800-475-4477
Brierfield Insurance Company 800-530-7800
Bristol West Insurance Group 800-BRISTOL
Capital Preferred 800-734-4749 or 888-388-2742
Catawba Insurance 800-711-9386
Century Surety Insurance Company 800-850-0422
CHUBB Insurance Group 800-252-4670 (800-CLAIMS-0)
Church Mutual Insurance 800-554-2642
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. 866-411-2742 (866-411-CPIC)
Cincinnati Insurance Company 1-877-242-2544
Clarendon National Insurance Company 800-216-3711
Clarendon Select Insurance Company 800-509-1592
CNA 877-262-2727
Colony Insurance Company 800-577-6614 ext. 1715
Companion Property & Casualty 800-649-2948
Cotton States Mutual Group 800-282-6536
CRC Insurance Services fax 205-986-6384
CUNA Mutual 800-637-2676
Cypress 888-352-9773
EMC Insurance Companies 800-910-4988
Encompass Insurance Company 800-588-7400
Erie Insurance Group 800-367-3743
Farmers 800-435-7764
FCCI 800-226-3224
Federal Mutual 888-333-4949
Federated National Insurance Company 800-420-7075
FEMA 800-621-3362 (800-621-FEMA)
Fidelity & Casualty Insurance Company 800-725-9472
Fidelity National Insurance Company 800-220-1351
Fidelity National Property and Casualty Insurance Company 800-725-9472
Fireman's Fund 888-347-3428 (888-FIREHAT)
First Floridian 800-252-4633 (800-CLAIM33) (personal); 800-238-6225 (business)
First Premium Insurance Group (Lloyd's Mobile Home) 800-432-3072
First Protective Insurance Company 877-744-5224
First Trenton 800-468-7341
FM Global 877-639-5677 (877-NEWLOSS)
Foremost Insurance Company 800-527-3907
GE Employers Re 866-413-8978
GEICO 800-841-3000
General Casualty 888-737-8256
General Star Indemnity Company 800-624-5237
General Star National Insurance Company 800-624-5237
GMAC Insurance (Auto Claims) 800-468-3466
Granada Insurance Company 800-392-9966
Great American 800-221-7274
Guide One 888-748-4326
Hanover Insurance (Allmerica) 800-628-0250
Harbor Insurance Company 800-216-3711
The Hartford 800-243-5860
Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest 800-637-5410 or 800-243-5860
Hartford Steam 800-HSB-LOSS
Holyoke Mutual 800-225-2533
ICAT 866-789-4228
Industrial Risk Insurers 860-520-7347 (Business claims)
Interstate Fire & Casualty 800-456-8458, ext. 770
Kemper Home & Auto 888-252-2799
Lafayette Insurance Company 800-343-9131
Lexington Insurance Company 800-931-9546
Liberty Mutual 800-2CLAIMS (800-225-2467)
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation 800-931-9548
Louisiana Farm Bureau 866-275-7322
Main Street America Group 877-282-3844
Mercury Insurance Group 800-987-6000
MetLife Auto & Home 800-854-6011
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 800-427-4661
National Insurance Company 800-239-2121
Nationwide 800-421-3535
North Pointe Insurance Company 877-878-1991
Ohio Casualty and West American Insurance Company 888-701-8727
Old Dominion Insurance Company 877-425-2467 or 800-606-7992
Omaha Property & Casualty 800-638-2592 (Flood only)
Omega Insurance Company 800-216-3711
OneBeacon 877-248-4968
Poe Financial Group 800-673-4952
Progressive Auto Insurance 800-PROGRESSIVE (766-4737)
QualSure Insurance Corp. 877-563-0150
Regency (Tower Hill) 800-216-3711
Republic Fire & Casualty 800-451-0286
Republic Group 800-451-0286
Republic Underwriters (Commercial) 800-451-0286
RLI Insurance Company 800-84-ROYAL (800-444-0406)
Royal & SunAlliance 800-847-6925
Safeco 800-332-3226
Safeway Insurance Company – 800-252-3251
Sagamore Insurance – Personal Auto 800-317-9402
Sagamore Insurance – Small Fleet 800-224-1221
Scottsdale Insurance Company 800-423-7675
Security National Insurance Company 800-BRISTOL
Selective 866-455-9969
Service Insurance Company 800-780-8423
Shelter Insurance Group 800-SHELTER (800-743-5837)
Sompo Japan 800-444-6870
Southern Family Insurance Company 800-673-4952
Southern Fidelity 866-874-7342
Southern Insurance Company (Commercial) 800-451-0286
Southern Underwriters (Commercial) 800-451-0286
Southwest Business Corp. 800-527-0066 ext. 7389
St. Johns Insurance Company 800-748-2030
St. Paul Insurance Companies 800-CLAIM 33 (800-252-4633)
St. Paul Travelers 800-CLAIM33 (800-252-4633)
State Auto 888-766-1853
State Farm Insurance 800-SF-CLAIM (800-732-5246)
Sunshine State Insurance Company 877-329-8795
TAPCO 888-437-0373
Texas Farm Bureau 800-772-6535
Tower Hill Insurance Companies 800-216-3711 or 800-509-1592
Travelers 800-252-4633 (800-CLAIM 33)
Travelers Boat & Yacht 800-772-4482
Travelers WC 800-238-6225
United Fire Insurance Company 800-343-9131
United Property and Casualty Company 800-861-4370
Union Standard Insurance Group 800-444-0049
Universal Insurance Company 888-846-7647
USAA 800-531-8222
USF&G 800-787-2851; 800-631-6478 (homeowners claims)
USLI 800-523-5545
Vanguard Fire & Casualty Company 888-343-5585
Voyager Insurance Company 800-245-1505
XL Insurance 800-688-1840
Zenith 800-440-5020
Zurich Insurance Company 800-987-3373
FEMA Info on what happens after You apply for disaster assistance?
FEMA will mail you a copy of your application and a copy of "Help After a Disaster: Applicant's Guide to the Individuals and Households Program" that will answer many of your questions.
- If your home or its contents are damaged and you do not have insurance an inspector should contact you within 10 to 14 days after you apply to schedule a time to meet you at your damaged home. In areas where access is still severely limited, it may take longer for an inspection.
- If your home or its contents were damaged and you have insurance you need to work through your insurance claim first and provide FEMA with a decision letter (settlement or denial) from your insurance company before FEMA issues an inspection. ***There is an exception for damages caused by flooding; if you have flood insurance, FEMA will issue an inspection before receiving a copy of your flood insurance decision letter to evaluate your eligibility for temporary living expenses because temporary living expenses are not covered by flood insurance.
- About 10 days after the inspection FEMA will decide if you qualify for assistance. If you qualify for a grant FEMA will send you a check by mail or deposit it in your bank account. FEMA will also send you a letter describing how you are to use the money (for example: repairs to your home or to rent another house while you make repairs).
- If FEMA decides that you do not qualify for a grant FEMA will send you a letter explaining why you were turned down and give you a chance to appeal the decision. Appeals must be in writing and mailed within 60 days of FEMA's decision.