Midwest Storm Damage

posted by TrueNorth Companies on Tuesday, August 11, 2020

On August 10, the entire state of Iowa experienced a widespread derecho – for those unfamiliar with a derecho storm system, it is best described as a “land hurricane” with sustained winds and damage that closely resemble that of a Category 4 hurricane.

To assist the community with recovery efforts, TrueNorth has compiled the following resources and will continue to update this page with claims guidance and insight regarding disaster recovery.

FEMA Information

FEMA aids individuals and families who have disaster-caused damages to their homes as a result of a presidentially declared disaster.

FEMA can help with other assistance needs, such as disaster-caused childcare needs, disaster medical expenses or necessary clean-up items.

FEMA Assistance for Housing and Other Needs

Claims Guidance

When you have a homeowner's insurance claim, your actions can make all the difference. We encourage you to contact your carrier directly, as this is the fastest way to get your claim handled. Should you have any questions or difficulty filing your claim, TrueNorth is here to help.

Carrier Updates

Additional Resources:

Here are steps on how to maneuver through the claims process with ease:

If you were away from your home when the incident occurred | Exercise caution when entering your property. If you have sustained major damage, contact your local government officials to determine how you should proceed.
Report downed power lines to the utility company | Keep your electricity off if there is standing water in your home.
Evacuate if necessary | If it appears as though it is not safe to be at your home, leave.
Contact TrueNorth or insurance carrier directly | Report how, when and where the damage occurred. Make a note of the claim handler’s name, telephone number and identification number when you call.
Protect your home from further damage without putting yourself in danger | This may include boarding up windows and salvaging your possessions that did not sustain much damage, calling a cleanup and restoration service to remove excess water—your claim handler can advise you on how to do so safely.
Take inventory | Prepare a list of damaged or lost items from your home.
Keep damaged items in your home until the claim handler has come for an inspection | Consider photographing or videotaping the damage.
Show proof of value | Provide receipts for damaged items if you saved them.
If you need to temporarily relocate, save all your receipts for additional expenses | Your policy may cover you for additional living expenses during this time.
Once you’ve reported your claim, the claim handler will send you some documents to complete within a specific period of time | Contact TrueNorth or the insurance carrier directly if you have any questions and return these forms promptly.
Contact your mortgage lender | Notify them of your loss and to discuss potential contractor bids. Your lender may want to inspect a contractor’s job before making a final payment.

Let us help you through the process

Contact TrueNorth at (800) 798-4080 with any questions or concerns. We are happy to provide you with a list of contractors who can fix the damage to your home, which gives you one less thing to worry about.

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