Insurance Department: Advice for Property Owners

Last week’s ice storm and power outage also brought property damage and insurance claims. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer has more.The Kentucky Department of Insurance has been working with insurance agencies that are sending more adjustors to the state in the wake of the storm.While the department expects most claims will be filed once power is restored to most homes, department commissioner Sharon Clark says adjustors have been responsive to the claims that have been made."We have not received a lot of reports yet of people that are having issues with getting adjusters out there," Clark says. "But we’re still waiting to hear from Western Kentucky, and obviously the communications has been the most difficult issue."Clark says she expects most claims will be filed once power is restored to most homes. And she says she believes insurance agencies will respond fairly quickly to those claims."If there are any issue where they’re not, we would certainly advise those folks to call their local agents and report the claims, make sure the adjustors aren’t out there," Clark says. "And then if they’re still having issues they can certainly call the department."She says policyholders should expect to pay a deductible and that insurance will not pay for hotel stays incurred during power outages."Living expenses are only provided for if there has been a loss to that house," she says. "If it’s just strictly the matter of a power outage, that is not part of their insurance contract."Clark says customers should ask any adjuster coming to their business or residence for identification and provide them with photographs that document damages. She also advises customers to closely examine their power lines and promptly report any damage to prevent further problems.