If you’ve suffered damage from Hurricane Irma, there are specific things you can and should be doing today, according to insurance and risk management expert David Paddison, president of Sterling Seacrest Partners.

If you have storm damage, here’s what you should currently be doing:

1. Make arrangements to protect your property from further damage. Make sure your family is safe.

2. Document the damage with pictures.

3. Notify your insurance agency or your insurance carrier of the damage.

4. Start reaching out to contractors to repair the damage.

5. Don’t make any repair or reconstruction decisions until you have talked with your agent or insurance adjuster. Temporary repairs are ok to make if they prevent additional damage, but don’t start renovating your damaged house until you have that important conversation!

Looking Forward …

The damage in Georgia could have been much worse. The storm lessened in force and turned away to the west before it hit Atlanta and the impact on the Georgia coast was lessened.

This should be a wakeup call and an opportunity for home and business owners:

1. Contact your insurance agent to review your coverage.

2. Get an “insurance tune up.” You may have made improvements or additions to your property since you set up your policy.  Consider home or business renovations and additions, purchases of jewelry, a new boat, cars, etc.

3. Understand the difference between insurance that covers rain damage and insurance that covers flood damage.

4. When you repair structural damage, consider building in more storm resistant features.

5. Inspect trees for damage, loose soil and proximity to structures. Move or trim as necessary.

It is important to learn from the experience of this storm in your preparation for the next. Now is the imperative time to review your policies and make sure they are up to date as you prepare not only for hurricane season but any potential circumstances that could affect your insurance policies.