Most people don't think about their insurance until after a disaster happens, but now is the time to prepare. The South Carolina Insurance News Service recommends at least four major items be on your hurricane planning list:

• Review your insurance coverage with your insurance agent or company and make sure you know what your policy covers. Write down your basic insurance information, such as the name and phone number of your insurance agent, your insurance policy number and your insurance claims phone number, and keep it with you if you evacuate.
• Ask your agent or company what you can do to reduce your chance of a loss, such as installing hurricane shutters, in order to protect your valuable personal belongings.
• Update your household inventory. Make a list, take pictures, videotape or use a home inventory software package to document your belongings and store the inventory in a safe place outside your home.
• Check to see what your deductibles are and how your insurance will handle damaged, stolen or destroyed items. Does your policy have a percentage deductible? Does it provide replacement cost coverage or actual cash value?

• Coastal residents may need as many as seven separate insurance policies to protect their home and property from disasters.
• Flood insurance is NOT part of most homeowner, mobile home or rental insurance policies. You must buy separate flood coverage, and there is a waiting period of 30 days.
• If your homeowner's insurance does not have wind/hail coverage, you will need to purchase separate coverage, which has a 15-day waiting period.
• You can't buy homeowner/renter's insurance after a hurricane watch or warning has been issued.

To help South Carolinians prepare for the hurricane/storm season, log on to the South Carolina Insurance News Service web site at www.scinsnews.com or call for free information on taking a home inventory, wind/hail insurance and settling insurance claims after a disaster.

For more information call the South Carolina Insurance News Service at 803-252-3455 or send email to: alove@scinsnews.com.

 

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