Midwest Tornado Outbreak: Insurance Resources for Individuals

Insurance can be overwhelming and tricky to manage following a tornado or other disaster. If you were recently impacted by the Midwest tornadoes and are looking for insurance guidance, check out our resources below.

• FOX Weather: "What you should do if your property sustained tornado damage"

  • Call your insurance company ASAP and consider getting an advance payment for quick assistance. Keep a record of anyone you've talked to with your company.

  • Keep ALL relevant receipts - repairs, temporary housing, etc.

  • Prepare for paperwork and the chance that the insurance company will send an adjuster to assess damages.

    • The more info that you can provide, the faster your claim can be settled.

  • Get bids for repairs from contractors BEFORE any work starts and compare these bids with the adjuster's report.

  • Watch out for scams.

• Policygenius: "Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage?"

  • "While tornado damage itself is covered by homeowners insurance, any flooding that happens during the storm would not be covered. Residents of tornado-prone areas with any amount of flood risk should consider flood insurance to supplement their homeowners insurance policy."

• Voss Law Firm: "How Long Do I Have To Submit A Tornado Insurance Claim For My Business?"

• Kiplinger: "How to File Tornado Insurance Claims"

  • "You're your own best advocate." You don't have to accept the amount your insurance offers, and you can ask your insurer to reimburse you later for exceeded costs.

  • Make a list of all destroyed/damaged items for your adjuster and provide receipts for these items if available, also known as a "home inventory."

    • The same goes for accommodations, temporary repairs, and other out-of-pocket expenses.

• Angi.com: "How to Document Damage for a Homeowners Insurance Claim"

• Texas Department of Insurance

  • "Help after the storm"

  • "FAQ: Homeowners insurance and disaster claims"

    • FAQs for property damage, fallen trees, mold coverage, sheltering at a hotel, FEMA, claim payments, winter storm damage

  • Home Insurance Glossary

• Insurance Information Institute

  • 1-minute video "Tornado tips: Reporting damage & loss"

  • "How to file a homeowners claim"

• Lane Law Firm: "6 Colossal Mistakes Homeowners Make With Insurance Claims"

• The Balance: "Information to Seek About Your Tornado Insurance Coverage"

• Carinsurance.com: "5 essential questions to ask if a tornado damages your car"

• LoPriore Insurance Agency, Inc.: "Don't Have Homeowner's Insurance? 5 Risks You Must Know"

• Trusted Choice: "Q&A Renters: Does Renters Insurance Cover Tornado Damage?"

• FirstCall Insurance Loss Reclamation Experts for the Midwest and Southeast Regions

  • Help for tornado damage insurance claims

• National Association of Insurance Commissioners

  • For finding state/jurisdiction insurance department contact info, state/jurisdiction-licensed insurance agents, and filing complaints about insurance companies/agents

• Disasterassistance.gov

  • For finding and applying for assistance, locating hotels for shelter

• FEMA Disaster Support Social Graphics

  • Graphics for debris removal, disaster assistance/aid, recovery, storm damage, etc.

• Crisis Cleanup

  • Hotline for December tornadoes: (800) 451-1954

  • "Information for Survivors"

• Disaster Distress Helpline: call or text 1-800-985-5990