It will be tempting to dig right in and start cleaning up but you shouldn’t do this. You should only do what is needed to prevent further damage. This might include covering broken windows or using tarps. Don’t start on any repairs or hire anyone until you have seen your insurance adjuster. They must see what water damage there is firsthand. Go ahead and photograph or record the water damage and work on a list of your possessions that have been damaged.
File a claim as soon as possible. Insurance adjusters will be stretched to the max if the hurricane water damage was extensive in your area, but the sooner you get on the list the sooner your claim will be processed. You will need to tell them the extent of the damages and provide a list of damaged belongings.
Another must-do is to secure temporary lodging. Do not stay in your home if it is unsafe to do so. Most insurance policies will cover some or all the costs for lodging, provided the water damage is a covered claim. Ask your insurance company what the time limits and coverage are.
Above all else, keep in mind that recovery takes time. You will need a great deal of patience to deal with water damage after a hurricane. The process is lengthy because there are so many others going through the same thing. This stretches resources at the insurance company and the companies involved in doing the cleanup and restoration. But someday, hopefully sooner than later, life will be back to normal again and the water damage will become a distant memory.
