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Starting Your Recovery After a Flood
Start the Claims Process
When it’s safe to return to your home, you should report your loss immediately to your agent or insurance company. If you’re unsure how to contact your agent or insurance company, call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) at 877-336-2627.
When you talk to your agent, have your policy declarations page on hand. An insurance adjuster should contact you to schedule an in-person or remote inspection within a few days of reporting your claim. If you do not hear from an insurance adjuster, you can contact your insurance agent or company again.
Prepare for the Inspection
Your insurance adjuster will document personal property damage, structure damage, and floodwater levels to prepare your claim estimate. It can be helpful to organize this information room by room. This includes:
- Photographing and videoing the inside and outside of your property, taken before you discard anything
- Providing the make, model, and serial number of large household appliances like washers and dryers, water heaters, kitchen appliances, televisions, and computers
- Collecting samples of building items (e.g., flooring, carpet, wallpaper, and drapes) and provide to the adjuster.
After taking photographs or videos of the damage, immediately throw away flooded contents and supplies, such as perishable food items, clothing, pillows, etc., that could pose health risks. NFIP policyholders are responsible for minimizing the growth and spread of mold as much as possible after a flood. The Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) will not cover mold damage when a policyholder fails to take reasonable action within their control to prevent the growth and spread of mold. To learn more about safe and effective flood cleanup, visit EPA.gov to download the Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters.
Work with Your Insurance Adjuster
When your insurance adjuster arrives, they should show you their official identification (driver’s license and company ID or Flood Control Number [FCN card]). They should also provide you with contact information, such as their email address, phone number, and the name of their adjusting firm.
Your insurance adjuster should:
- Answer questions about your claim
- Discuss the NFIP flood claims process (review the NFIP Claims Handbook for additional information)
- Inspect your property to assess the scope of damage by taking measurements and photos
- Explain what an advance payment is and how you can receive one
- Discuss your policy coverage and limits—in terms of your structure and personal property, or both
- Submit necessary documents to substantiate your loss to your insurer
- Confirm the name of your current mortgagee holder Ask for a current mailing address and phone number if you are displaced
- Discuss the availability of Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage if you are eligible
Important Reminder
The flood insurance adjuster sent by your insurer will never ask you for money, collect your deductible amount, or charge you a fee for their service.
Your adjuster will provide you with a repair estimate that includes the visible damage observed at the time of the initial inspection based on repair costs in your area. Carefully review your estimate for accuracy and completeness. Additionally, your signature may be required on a Proof of Loss. Signing a Proof of Loss, even if you have questions about the amount, will not prevent you from requesting additional payment if necessary. If you disagree with the estimate or find additional damage later, contact your insurance company or adjuster.
Your flood insurance company is committed to paying the full amount to which you are entitled under your flood insurance policy. Be sure to ask your insurer or adjuster about your policy, what it covers, and any important deadlines you need to meet. Keep copies of all documents that are relevant to your flood claim, including all materials submitted to your insurance company and adjuster. Saving receipts, bank statements, and contractor’s invoices will ensure you receive a timely claim payment for future flood events since you will be required to document that previous flood damage was repaired.
As you recover, there are several different organizations and agencies that may send representatives to your home to help with your restoration. No matter who’s knocking at your door, always ask for identification and the purpose of the visit. If you are unsure of or uncomfortable with anyone you encounter who claims to be an emergency management official or if you receive a suspicious call, please contact local law enforcement and the Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. Do not give out your personal information. Learn more about the representatives who may visit by reviewing Who’s Knocking at Your Door.
Make Repairs
Check the building’s electrical, water, HVAC systems, and structure for damage. If needed, contact service providers. Be sure to consult your insurance adjuster or insurance company before signing any agreement or contract with a cleaning, remediation, or maintenance contractor. To protect your investment, when selecting a contractor make sure they are licensed, bonded, and insured and ask to see proof. Get estimates in writing as well as project descriptions and timelines.
Research local building rules and regulations to prepare for meetings with contractors. If you are using a contractor who is not local to the area, this is especially critical as they may not know all the permitting requirements and building regulations for your community.
Your community official can also provide useful information about what it means if your building is considered substantially damaged, provide tips on how to better protect or repair your home when rebuilding, and explain how to obtain building permits.
Understanding Claim Payments
Flood insurance protects the life you’ve built when compared to the average cost of a flood. It can take four-to-eight weeks before a standard claim is finalized and paid. The claim payment check will be made out to you and/or your mortgage company/lender, which require additional sign offs.
If you receive a letter from your flood insurance company denying all or part of your claim, and you disagree with the denial, you have several options. Any policyholder insured through FEMA’s NFIP has a right to appeal the denial to the agency. You must submit the appeal within 60 days after the date of the insurance company’s written denial letter. You may only appeal what the insurance company declined in the denial letter. For additional information, visit FloodSmart.gov/flood/appeal-your-claim-payment.
Important Contacts
For more information on the claims process, visit FloodSmart.gov/start or call FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) at 877-336-2627. You may want to record key contact information for your adjuster and insurance agency below.
- Adjuster name: __________________________________________________________
- Adjuster telephone number: __________________________________________________________
- Adjuster email: __________________________________________________________
- Insurance company: __________________________________________________________
- Insurance company telephone number: __________________________________________________________
- Insurance company email: __________________________________________________________
Keep in mind, it may take time for your adjuster and insurer to respond to questions and process your claim. Depending on the severity of the disaster, they may be processing many claims in your area. Know that they are doing all they can to ensure you receive everything you are entitled to under your flood insurance policy.
Basic Cleaning Supplies
Now it’s time to begin working. It’s up to you whether you prefer to start by tackling the largest issues across the entire home, or by focusing on one or two key rooms where you can make substantial progress.
You may have a lot to accomplish, so be sure to take breaks when the task seems overwhelming. Step outside, get some fresh air, and focus on the improvements you’ve already made. And don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
- If this is your first visit to the home, follow our tips for checking your home’s structural elements and utilities and systems.
- Open doors and windows. If the house was closed for more than 48 hours, air it out before staying inside for any length of time.
- Remove any remaining water, large amounts of dirt/mud, damaged items and other trash.
- Clean hard surfaces throughout your home (flooring, countertops and appliances) thoroughly with hot water and soap or a detergent. Then disinfect with bleach or a commercial disinfectant (be sure to follow directions on the bottle).
- Dry soft surfaces (upholstered furniture, rugs, bedding and clothing) in the open air if possible, before cleaning
- Throw out all food, beverages and medicine exposed to flood waters and mud. When in doubt, throw it out. This includes canned goods, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and containers with food or liquid that has been sealed shut.
- Any appliances that were inundated by flood water should be checked by a professional before you use them.
Cleaning and sanizing food contact surfaces:
- Throw away wooden cutting boards, wood or plastic utensils, and baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that have come into contact with floodwater.
- Use hot, soapy water to thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that have come into contact with floodwater.
- Sanitize dishes by boiling them in a clean or properly treated water or by immersing them for 10 to 15 min in a solution of 1 tablespoons of unscented liquid of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water.
Water DamageWater damage, such as from a flood or in the aftermath of a fire, is not just unsightly and unsanitary – it can also be dangerous. From wallboards to rugs, items that are not thoroughly dried can sprout mold and mildew.
Your first task in addressing water damage is to remove any water that remains. That means pumping out standing water and drying out waterlogged surfaces.
- Pump out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid structural damage. If the water is pumped out completely in a short period of time, pressure from water-saturated soil on the outside could cause basement walls to collapse.
- Bring all soft items (such as sofas, clothing, bedding, and throw rugs) outside if possible – sunlight and wind will help them dry faster.
- Throw out items that have absorbed water and cannot be cleaned or disinfected. This includes mattresses, carpeting, cosmetics, stuffed animals and baby toys.
- Remove all drywall and insulation that has been in contact with flood waters.
- Consider removing vinyl floor coverings and tile to allow the substructures beneath or behind them to dry.
- Keep the windows open and run fans – or keep them shut and run dehumidifiers – to pull moisture out of wood floors and subfloors, beams, doors, etc.
Be patient. Depending on the level of water damage incurred, it can take weeks or months for your home’s structural elements to be thoroughly dried. Only then should you replace drywall, carpets and other floorcoverings.
