By: Rick Kinney

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The National Weather Service in Nashville has issued severe weather warnings for the mid-state for much of the day Saturday.

A rapidly developing storm system over the Southern Plains will affect us through the evening hours. As it moves across the Middle of the state, showers and storms will develop.

Some of the storms could be severe with strong winds, hail and a few isolated tornadoes. Later tonight, much colder air will move in behind the storms with temperatures dropping into the upper 30s tonight and only rising into the 50s Sunday.

A tornado watch remains in effect for Middle Tennessee until 9:00 p.m. If a tornado is spotted, act quickly and move to a place of safety in a sturdy structure such as a basement or small interior room.

Afterward s, look to your homeowner insurance policy if damage occurred. Wind, Hail, and Lightning are always associated with severe weather.

Wind damage can constitute shingles that are obviously blown off the roof system, uplifted tabs that the wind force has broken the seals, flashing uplifted or missing.

Hail damage to roof and siding consists of granular loss to the roof membrane, dimples, and indentations, scratched roof shingles, dented siding if aluminum, cracked or holes in vinyl siding, Ac condenser coils severely damaged dings, dents and etc…

Lightning strikes to chimney, appliances, or even start house fire.

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Rick Kinney Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner Insurance Claims!

By: Rick Kinney

Work crews with the forestry division of the Columbus Consolidated Government have spent today dealing with a variety of fallen trees across the city due to heavy rains.

When dealing with a fallen tree homeowner insurance claim then it is important that the tree damages a structure for coverage to apply.

Meaning, if the tree just falls into clear space out on the lawn then there isn’t any coverage for the debris removal under most homeowner insurance policies. However, if just one branch scratches siding or damages the roof on your home, shed, detached garage or even a fence, then coverage would apply. Look to your policy of insurance and see what the limits are regarding a windstorm fallen tree claim. Normally this type of coverage has a $500.00 limit to remove the debris, however, if the tree is on the house then the cost to remove the tree should fall under the Coverage A Dwelling limit. That’s right…if the tree cost thousands of dollars to remove then the cost should be covered under the dwelling limit. Same is true for Coverage B - Other Structures limits as well.

Nearby, an employee of the Columbus Water Works was keeping a close eye on a pump that was transferring water from one sewer line, to another larger one across the creek, to prevent any serious overflows or backups. When storm sewers backup and cause water damage to the interior of your home, then you will most likely need the backup of sewer and drains endorsement that affords coverage for this type of water damage.

Back up of sewer and drains water damages are usually specifically excluded in most homeowner insurance policies. These types of water losses are considered to be a class three water loss. Class three water losses are very serious and contain large amounts of nasty contaminants that can be harmful to you and your family.

Rick Kinney Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner Insurance Claims!

Beginning with the December 2007 ice storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinated recovery efforts for seven separate disasters that hit the state last year. More than $181 million in disaster assistance was provided to individuals, businesses and qualifying nonprofit organizations, and to state and local governments.

“Missourians were particularly hard-hit last year,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Tom Hall, who directed the Missouri recovery efforts from September 2008 through the end of operations. “Nearly every county, at one time in 2008, was part of a presidential disaster declaration.”

Only Clay, Jackson, Lafayette, and Henry counties in the west-central portion of the state were unscathed by disasters in 2008. Most counties had multiple declarations throughout the year.
“It was a year like few others that anyone can recall,” said Hall. “Severe winter storms, ice, flooding, and tornadoes – Missouri saw it all in 2008.”

Federal disaster declarations followed these incidents:
• Severe winter storms, Dec. 6-15, 2007
• Severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, Jan. 7 - 10
• Severe winter storms and flooding, Feb. 10 - 14
• Severe storms and flooding, March 17 – May 9
• Severe storms and tornadoes, May 10 -11
• Severe storms and flooding, June 1 - Aug. 13.
• Severe storms, flooding, and a tornado, Sept. 11- 24.

Disaster declarations define the types of assistance made available by the federal government. Those declarations may be for Individual Assistance (IA) for individuals and households, or Public Assistance (PA) for state and local governments and qualifying private nonprofits. Additionally, there are declarations that include both types of assistance.

Some statistics from the seven 2008 Missouri declarations:
• 12,809 individuals/households registered for individual assistance.
• More than $22.5 million was disbursed to help Missourians with temporary housing and home repairs. Another $4 million was for Other Needs Assistance, which helps fund the repair or replacement of personal property and disaster-related transportation, moving, medical, dental, and funeral expenses.
• More than $98,165 was disbursed for disaster related unemployment claims.
• More than $12.5 million was approved in loans to homeowners through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Another $9.5 million was approved in SBA loans to Missouri businesses.
• In the PA categories, there were 5,202 projects approved for more than $130 million. Under PA guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the cost and the remainder is paid for by the state and local government.

When it is cost effective and technically feasible, additional PA funding is approved through the Hazard Mitigation Program (HMP) to restore infrastructure to a higher standard, making it more disaster resistant.

During the 2008 Missouri disasters, there were 294 HM projects approved, totaling $1.3 million.
Not all Missouri PA projects or HMP project approvals resulting from the 2008 disasters are completed at this time; however, all funding has been obligated.

In addition to coordinating the recovery effort, FEMA employees, local hires and the agency’s subcontractors all contributed to the local economy. Over the course of the year, more than 1,400 persons were employed to assist those affected by disaster.

At the highest point, there were more than 500 employees assisting the recovery efforts that followed the severe storms and flooding that began in March and lasted through mid-May. The number of employees diminishes as the recovery process moves forward.

After the joint FEMA/State field office is closed, disaster records are forwarded to one of the agency’s regional offices. The address for the regional office for Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska is:

Federal Emergency Management Agency
9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO. 64114-3372
Telephone: (816) 283-7063
2008 Missouri Disaster Assistance Totals $180 Million
Seven Declarations Covered 110 of 114 Counties
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Below is a summary of the total and type of assistance provided during 2008 to help Missourians recover from seven federally declared disasters.
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $21,956,805
Other Needs Assistance 3,744,720
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 97,814
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 11,159,400
Business Loans 8,181,600
Total $45,140,339
Public Assistance
Projects 5,202
Total Obligated for PA Projects $134,267,164
Mitigation
Projects 294
Hazard Mitigation Amount $1,329,014
COMBINED TOTAL $180,736,517
Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.
First Quarter Of ’08 Devastates Public Infrastructure

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Severe winter storms, flooding, and tornadoes in December 2007 and the early months of 2008 devastated roads, bridge, utilities, and other public infrastructure. In all, 69 counties were made eligible for public assistance as a result of disaster declarations in January, February, and March. Below is a summary of the total and types of federal assistance provided for the recovery.

Severe Winter Storm, Dec. 6-15, 2007
FEMA-1736-DR, Missouri
42 Counties in North and Central and Along U.S. Highway 44 in Missouri Affected
Public Assistance Projects 809
Public Assistance Obligated $34,273,701
Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, Jan. 7-1, 2008FEMA-1742-DR, Missouri
Nine Counties in Central and Southwest Missouri Affected
Public Assistance Projects 101
Public Assistance Obligated $1,739,155
Severe Winter Storms and Flooding Feb.10-14, 2008
FEMA-1748-DR, Missouri
18 Counties in South and Southeast Missouri Affected
Public Assistance Projects 228
Public Assistance Obligated $13,668,333
Total Projects 1,138
Total OBLIGATED $49,681,189
Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.
Severe Storms and Flooding, March 17 – May 9
FEMA-1749-DR, Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Near record flooding in the spring of 2008 began with a torrential downpour over a short 48-hour period that began March 17. Rain throughout the following two months continued to soak the heavily-saturated ground and created flood hazards in 71 Missouri counties and the Independent City of St. Louis. Below is a summary of the types and totals of federal assistance that followed the presidential disaster declaration.

Assistance Totals For Recovery
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $12,123,699
Other Needs Assistance 1,621,231
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 48,207
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 6,561,000
Business Loans 4,383,200
Total $24,737,337
Public Assistance
Projects 2,088
Total Obligated, All PA Projects $34,736,997
COMBINED TOTAL $59,474,334

Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.
Severe Storms and Tornadoes, May 10-11, 2008
FEMA-1760-DR, Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Severe storms and tornadoes in early May tore through southwestern Missouri, resulting in 13 deaths and leaving a path of destruction that resulted in a disaster declaration for three counties. Below is a summary of the total and types of federal assistance provided for the recovery.

Assistance Totals For Recovery
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $ 1,257,061
Other Needs Assistance 350,928
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 8,000
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 368,000
Business Loans 32,200
Total $2,016,189
Severe Storms and Flooding, June 1-Aug.13
FEMA-1773-DR, Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Heavy storms throughout the Midwest during the summer months resulted in the worst flooding in decade, particularly along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Below is a summary of the types and totals of federal assistance that followed a presidential disaster declaration that included 56 Missouri counties.

Assistance Totals For Recovery
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $ 4,687,388
Other Needs Assistance 427,547
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 41,607
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 2,859,700
Business Loans 1,659,300
Total $9,675,542
Public Assistance
Projects 1,513
Total Obligated, All PA Projects $35,420,806
COMBINED TOTAL $45,096,348

Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.
Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado, Sept. 11-24
FEMA-1809-DR, Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The storms, flooding, and a tornado in Sedalia, Pettis County in September resulted in a federal disaster declaration that included 53 Missouri counties and the Independent City of St. Louis. Below is a summary of the types and totals of federal assistance that followed the presidential disaster declaration.

ASSISTANCE TOTALS FOR RECOVERY
Individual Assistance
Housing Assistance $ 4,546,868
Other Needs Assistance 272,700
Disaster Unemployment Assistance 351
Small Business Administration
Home Loans 2,781,600
Business Loans 3,517,300
Total $11,118,468
Public Assistance
Projects 462
Total Obligated, All PA Projects $10,558,015
COMBINED TOTAL $21,676,483

Under public assistance guidelines, FEMA picks up 75 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid for by state and local governments. The total cost is shown here.

FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

Rick Kinney Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner Insurance Claims!

By: Rick Kinney

If you’re suffering from a property loss then always remember your duty and responsibility as a homeowner. The word “mitigate” is an insurance term that means protecting the property from further damage.

Obviously the type of loss plays a huge role in this process; however this can involve placing tarps over damaged roofing systems, removing damaged contents, pumping water out of your home or other temporary repairs.

The beneficial element to mitigating and protecting your property is the fact that if you have a covered loss then all the financial expenses for the temporary repairs should be covered under your policy.

Why do you have to mitigate your property? It is you responsibility to protect your property from further damage, and again this course of action depends on your individual situation. If you decide not to protect your property from further damage, the insurance company will likely deny the additional damage that occurred as the result of your being negligent.

For example, if you have a windstorm that tears off your siding or roof, and you decide you’re not going to do nothing to protect the side of your house or the roof and four days later, another storm occurs and causes interior water damage. The insurance company could deny the interior damages from the second storm because you didn’t try to mitigate the wind damage from the first storm.

You may need a contractor to mitigate the damages for you. The contract for cleaning and restoration of your property will be between you and the contractor…not the contractor and the insurance company.

If you encountered a property loss and are thinking about submitting an homeowner insurance claim then it would be valuable for you to check out our product line.

See how you can do more than just mitigate your property damage by following our 9 step do it yourself claim kits.

With our claim kits you are given the opportunity to represent your own homeowner insurance claim and save hundreds if not thousands of dollars. That’s Right…Save Time & Money.

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Rick Kinney Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner Insurance Claims!

By: Rick Kinney

The U.S. Department of energy states that one of the most cost effective ways to save money on heating and cooling expenses is to insulate your attic floor. Some of the reasons why you should insulate your attic floor is to keep heat in and to prevent damaging ice dams along your exterior roof line.

Sometimes you can’t prevent freak accidents from occurring that might cause severe property damage.

Roof leaks are very common in a simple rainstorm. What happens if your attic suffers from water migration from an ice dam and you need to re-insulate your attic? Well, first you want prevent further damage from occurring, and notify the insurance company by reporting the damage. It is important to understand the policy type that you have purchased before notifying the insurance company.

Just because a roof leaks doesn’t mean that the insurance company is obligated to repair the roof or pay for the interior damages. Ice damming, wind driven rain, and other type of roof leaks that do not have openings created by the wind force are only covered under open peril policy types.

Do you know what policy type you have? Our claim kits are well worth the investment and education you receive before placing a claim and teach you how to identify most policies.

After the insurance company has been notified then the homeowner insurance claim process begins.

At www.propertyclaimtips.com you are able to handle a roof leak claim yourself and save thousands of dollars by eliminating contingency fees that could possibly start at 10%, 20%, or up to 35% for the public adjuster.

Here’s three valuable tips for adding insulation to your attic floor:

1. If you have original floor boards, do your best to carefully remove and save them for reuse, as well as any original iron nails. Use various hand tools including a flat bar, cat’s paw, hammer and nail puller to lift the nail a little at a time, working ahead of the nail, so that the force of the bar is spread out and you don’t damage the wood.

2. Measure the depth of your floor joist space, and buy bats or rolls of fiberglass that will fit snuggly, with highest R-factor available. You can test for depth before pulling up floor boards by drilling some ¼ inch holes and using a stiff piece of wire to check your depth.

3. If old insulation exists, inspect it carefully before simply adding to it. Years of improper ventilation could have matted it down, prior efforts at working on wiring or other systems could have caused coverage to be inconsistent, and nesting pests might have ruined entire areas. It may make sense to clean out cavities and install new, fluffy insulation. Always wear a respirator 1/2 mask with H.E.P.A. (high efficiency particulate air) filtration cartridges, and cover all bare skin when working with any insulation materials as even new stuff is nasty. Caution: some forms of older vermiculite insulation are known to contain asbestos.

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Rick Kinney Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner Insurance Claims!

By: Rick Kinney

Homeowner insurance is policy purchased from your insurance agent or insurance company in order to protect your house and or personal property against danger. These perils are listed in the Perils Insured Against part of the policy located in SECTION 1 – PERILS INSURED AGAINST in most insurance policies.

There are basically (5) policy types for the single family dwelling. The risk that comes with owning a home is transferred to the insurance provider, who makes you feel certain that your most valuable asset other than children, and or pets, is that your “home” is safe.

There are multiple insurance polices that are offered by the insurance companies. However, the better the policy; the higher your premium is going to be.

There is the Basic Form Policy, Broad Form, Special Form, Extended Form, and the Modified Limited Repair Form insurance policies. They all differ and you really should get a basic understanding as to how and why they do!!!

It would be a smart idea to look up the basics for specific insurance companies that you are interested in and learn the basics of homeowner insurance shopping.

Before determining the insurance company and the insurance policy you should determine the value of all the items in your home.

It would be a great idea to take pictures or a video of all the important items that you own just to have documentation.

This will establish ownership and proof that you had possession of these items, next you can then place a value for all items in your home just in case of a total loss. And then ask yourself this question: what type of coverage do I need?

Replacement cost or Actual Cash Value? 80% Co-insurance Clause, Loss Settlement provisions stating how the policy will pay for damages at the time of a loss. Does the policy pay for same, like kind and quality building materials or similar quality? This is huge when arguments develop as to the obligation the insurance company is under. Don’t be mislead…After all, it’s your property and money we are speaking about here…right?

A standard homeowner insurance policy includes four important types of coverage. It should include: Coverage (A) Dwelling, Coverage (B) Other Structures, and Coverage (C) for your Personal Property and Coverage (D) Loss of Use if your home becomes unlivable because of damage from a fire, storm or other insured catastrophe.

Why should you understand the homeowner insurance claim process. It’s simple, let’s just say for an example that a damaging storm comes through your neck of the woods and harms your house. Now do you know what to do and more importantly, do you know and understand the insurance claim process.

If you answered no I do not know or understand the claim process…then guess what???

There is a great chance that you will get taken advantage of by your wonderful insurance company, and you will not receive all the money that is rightfully yours.

After all, insurance companies are in business to make BIG MONEY. They will not just say if you need more money then just call us up and we will be certain to mail it to you…yeah right!!!

If you believe this then you better wake up fast.

Just remember that Knowledge = Power to Negotiate Higher Insurance Claim Settlements. At Property Claim Tips we are devoted to walking homeowners through a 9 step easy-to-follow process that allows the homeowner to present their own homeowner insurance claim saving time & money!!!

If you have property damage then we encourage you to visit www.propertyclaimtips.com and find the claim it that you need. Also, make certain to sign up for our FREE SPECIAL REPORT called “Your Duties & Responsibilities After a Loss.”

Rick Kinney Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner Insurance Claims!

by: Rick Kinney

Water damage is a common, everyday, homeowner insurance claim that can be caused by a number of different types of scenarios. Like a overflowing bathtub, toilet or vanity.

An overflowing upstairs bathtub can cause significant water damage affecting several rooms of your home and various structural elements including the bathroom floor, the ceiling of the room below, the walls, carpets, electrical systems, insulation, baseboards, doors, and furnishings.

Water damage may also be caused by wind driven rain that can cause a roof leak. A river, creek, stream or brook can cause water damage by flooding, and there is always the accidental discharge of water that escapes from the plumbing system.

A sump pump overflow, sewer line back up, and there are many others types of water damage that can cause tremendous amounts of damage to your property. Regardless of how water damage occurs, homeowners must be ready to act.

Before you hire a water damage restoration contractor, you must first ensure the safety of your family by taking the necessary safety precautions such as turning off the power to prevent electrocution.

Secondly, you must find the source and stop the water as soon as possible. Depending on the source of the overflow, you may need to use the home’s main water shutoff valve.

Next, perform emergency drying out procedures before calling your insurance and a professional water damage restoration expert.

Review your policy type before calling the insurance notification department. There are only five policy types offered for the homeowner and only three cover against plumbing related water damages.

There are only two that cover wind driven rain. And if you have a sump pump or a sewer back up then you will need the endorsements that provide additional coverage.

Water damage claims are tricky to determine Coverages. It all comes down to HOW the water got there!!!

So check out our claim kits that give you the opportunity to present and settle your own property loss. Next, contact a water damage restoration company for assistance in thoroughly drying out your home and repairing the damage. Visit our national network.

Professional water damage restoration help can minimize the damage, especially when you choose a company that promises a fast response. But that’s only the beginning; next you must file a homeowner insurance claim and deal with the insurance company, which can be hard at times.

Do you know the claim process? Property Claim Tips LLC make it their duty and responsibility to make sure that you as a homeowner have all the necessary tools and information needed when negotiating an insurance settlement.

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Rick Kinney Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner Insurance Claims!

by: Rick Kinney

Generally speaking, when people think of water damage they think of roof leaks, overflowing toilets, and broken pipes. However, homeowners can suffer from severe water damage due to something like a fish tank, over watered house plants, a chimney leak, stucco walls leaking, air conditioner condensation line, freezing of a plumbing system and more. Let’s take a look at some of these unusual water damage sources.

Homeowners may experience a property loss such as water damage due to anything that could potentially break or bust that holds water. Obviously, the larger the vessel, the more damage potential that item has. Aquariums are often made out of several panes of glass. While carefully crafted, seams can leak. In addition, fish tanks can fall off of their stands.

Homes with built-in fish ponds can also suffer water damage when the pond leaks, the pond overflows, or water becomes displaced. If you have small children in the home, an interior fish pond is not a wise idea. Not only can toddlers fall in and drown, children have been known to splash water as well as fill fish ponds with toys, thus displacing water and causing water damage to carpets and floorboards.

Houseplants are attractive when properly watered and cared for. However, excessive watering can lead to water damage. Pots generally contain drainage holes which are necessary to prevent root rot and excessively moist soil. If you don’t have a place for the water to drain, the water will soak through the soil and onto the surface below, damaging the shelves, cabinets, and flooring beneath.

Chimneys are another way homeowners have to deal with water damage that is often overlooked. Missing or damaged chimney caps, cracks in the bricks, and missing chunks of mortar allow water to enter the home via the chimney. Water damage may not be readily apparent in these cases though the excess moisture provides the perfect environment for mold to thrive.

Air conditioners and heating systems also cause water damage, primarily due to condensation leaks. Air Conditioners have the ability to get too cold and sometimes they “freeze” up. Eventually the ice on the air conditioner’s coils melts, and has the potential to cause water damage. Central air conditioners and heating systems usually have a hose and drainage system for condensation. However, these systems can become clogged or can overflow, causing major water damage.

Refrigerator ice making line leak is another source of water damage. Much like air conditioners, refrigerators condense and water forms. A collection pan under the appliance collects this condensate. However, this pan should be emptied occasionally, or the water may overflow. In addition, built-in water dispensers and ice makers require special water lines. These lines can come loose or break, causing water damage.

Water damage has the potential to occur regardless of the scenario, always remember, where there’s water, there’s the potential for future water damage, mold and a homeowner insurance claim.
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Rick Kinney “Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner’s Insurance Claims”

By:
Rick Kinney

Do you have the flooded basement? Due to their nature of a basement being an underground structure, basements are prone to water damage. It doesn’t take a river overflowing its banks or a major tropical storm to flood a basement. In fact, basement flooding often occurs due to sub surface water, hydrostatic pressure and water that builds up in the surrounding soil.

So what’s a property owner to do? Prevention is always the best medicine, especially when it comes to your home. As little as three inches of water can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage.

Even small leaks can become major disasters if mold starts to develop. If your basement isn’t flooded now, take the necessary precautions to prevent the most common basement flooding problems. You’ll save yourself a great deal of heartache, time and money later.

If you have cinder block walls, use a waterproof coating using the manufacturer’s spread rate specifications. Don’t be cheap and skimp! You may even need a second or even third coat if water seepage continues after the first application. Use a waterproof coating that is specifically formulated to block water passing through due to hydrostatic pressure. What is hydrostatic pressure? This is pressure caused by water in the soil which could include the water table, rain or snow melt runoff flowing toward your home underground, or even from the gutter system on the roof.

Other prevention steps include fixing leaks, ensuring proper drainage, and installing a sump pump.

Leaks in the basement don’t always originate down below. For example, if you have a toilet that overflowed above, where do you think the water is going to end up? In the basement!

Remember that faulty gutter system? Is rainwater draining properly or is it collecting in the soil that’s pressing against your basement walls? Make sure that your home’s gutters are draining away from the foundation and basement. Does the ground near your home slope away from it or toward it? Ideally, the ground should slope away. If not, consider hiring a professional to grade the soil.

Sump pumps are increasingly being used as a preventative tool. In the past, sump pumps were used after the flood occurred. These pumps were used to remove or extract the water after wards.

Now, many municipalities have restricted builders from routing rainwater from gutters to the sewer systems as they try to comply with the Clean Water Acts (CWA) 1972, 1977, and 1983. If the water isn’t carried away from your foundation and basement, flooding can occur.

SPECIAL NOTE: “You Need the Sump Pump Endorsement added to Your Homeowner Insurance Policy” Check with your insurance agency and inquire about a sump pump endorsement. Ask if they sell one, if not, then get an insurance company that will offer this type of coverage. Water that backs up through sewer and drains is normally specifically excluded in the exclusion part of the policy…under water damage!

Also, ask the agent if there is a policy limit on this sort of coverage? Some are $5,000.00, $10,000.00 and or $20,000.00 and are subject to a specific deductible. Then again, there are companies that offer the full amount of the policy under Coverage A-Dwelling limit for the actual loss sustained. Finished basements, HVAC systems, Personal Property and etc…could cost a fortune to replace these days!!! Check out our Sump Pump claim kit.

The sump pump will remove water from the lowest sections of the basement, even below the basement floor or subsurface water. A sump hole collects rising ground water. The sump pump kicks in when the water reaches a “critical” level and begins pumping the water out. The water is then pumped through a discharge pipe that diverts it away from your home’s foundation and basement.

There are several types of sump pumps on the market. Most use a “float” which activates the pump when the water reaches a certain level. Similar to how a toilet float works.

In addition, sump pumps can be powered by either water or electricity. It is recommended that you have a battery back up system installed for the sump pumps that operate off of electricity just in case power outages occur during a severe storm.

Sump pumps should have a “check valve” to prevent water from flowing back in once the pumping is complete. Otherwise, the water will come right back in, trigger the sump pump, and create an endless pumping cycle. Choose the type of sump pump that best meets your needs and check it frequently to make sure that it’s working properly.

Please visit www.propertyclaimtips.com TODAY.

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“Your Duties and Responsibilities After a Loss.”

Rick Kinney Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner Insurance Claims!

By: Rick Kinney

TUPELO - Tupelo fire investigators are looking for the cause of a Monday night fire that damaged four apartments on Ida Street.

According to fire officials, the fire started about 10:30 p.m. in an upstairs unit at Azalea Gardens apartment at 1522 Ida St. It spread and damaged another upstairs unit.

Because the fire started on the second floor of the building, the two apartments below suffered water damage from the firefighters’ hoses, according to Investigators.

No one was injured in the blaze and no cause has been found.

Ten families were displaced, in part because firefighters cut power to an adjacent building to make sure the fire wouldn’t spread.

If you need an expert opinion on how to process a fire loss then we have the claim kit for you.

Rick Kinney Your Advocate in Property Damage Homeowner Insurance Claims!