How to Rebuild After a Storm

Rebuilding after a natural disaster is never easy. The better prepared you are in advance, the smoother the process will be in the aftermath.

Some homes along the coast were severely damaged by Hurricane Helene. TajdidProtik/Shutterstock

Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes all have one thing in common: They leave a trail of devastation in their wake. In some cases, rebuilding may not be an option, but if it is, there are many important steps to take. Some are critical well before the ground trembles or the winds howl.

Rebuilding is never easy, but these suggestions can make it easier.

Read Your Insurance Policy Carefully

Insurance policies are a good start, but it’s important to know what they cover—and what they don’t—long before it’s time to file a claim. In areas prone to flooding, flood insurance may be mandated by lenders or simply by common sense. But areas that historically are not prone to rising water can be devastated by flash floods caused by dam breaks or torrential rainfall.

It can be easy to assume a homeowner’s policy will cover these events, but knowing for sure is a better approach. Read all pages of insurance policies carefully, and call the agent or company with any questions or concerns.

From an insurance company’s perspective, there’s a huge difference between flood damage caused by rising waters as opposed to water intrusion resulting from winds. Regardless of the cause, in many cases, some instances of flood damage are not covered by homeowner’s insurance.

Some homeowners who live in coastal areas or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-designated flood zones make a conscious decision to not obtain flood insurance, preferring instead to self-insure by setting aside an amount equal to the policy cost on an annual basis. However, most homes subject to a mortgage require the lender to be covered by an appropriate policy, which the homeowner may continue to use even after the loan has been fully repaid.

The question to be answered is: What exactly is covered? While the lender’s interest is usually covered, the homeowner’s interests may not be, making it imperative to read the policy carefully and consider securing additional coverage.

Other factors to consider include:

Location

In some cases, homes in coastal areas may require additional coverage and specialized policies to cover risks not addressed by a standard homeowner’s policy. This may also apply to areas prone to earthquakes and windstorms.

Renters Versus Owners

Considering a renter’s insurance policy might be a good idea, as their belongings will most likely not be covered by the owner’s policy.

Valuables

Assuming a typical homeowner’s insurance policy covers antiques, valuables, collectibles, and other high-value items is a great way to be disappointed. To protect valuables, consider purchasing specialty insurance. It may require an appraisal before the policy goes into effect. Keep in mind the need to insure these items for their current values.

Auto Assets

Vehicles are another common possession worth discussing with an insurance agent. Storm damage will most likely be covered by the vehicle’s insurance policy, but collectible cars, trucks, and motorcycles that aren’t driven regularly might need specialized coverage. Read the policies closely and make adjustments as required.

In addition to documents provided by an insurance provider, the FEMA website is a source of good information for those who have suffered losses. Remember, the time to read all this is before a storm hits, not while it’s on the way or in the aftermath.

Document Everything

Pre-storm damaged photos, video, and receipts of valuables and appliances, as well as of the structure itself, need to be taken and then secured. This includes documenting the make and model of appliances, washers and dryers, computers, and televisions, as well as storing samples of carpeting, paint, wallpaper, drapes, and more. Proof of pre-storm condition of assets is critical.

Keep Documents Safe

Because the entire home and everything in it could be destroyed, keeping the pre-storm documents in a secure off-site location is worth considering. A bank’s safe-deposit box is an option, but there have been cases where entire towns have been damaged, including the local bank. Other options include storing the photos and documents, or at least copies of them, with friends or families living far away, or in a cloud storage file.

After the Storm

The first thing to do is to take a deep breath.

Personal safety comes first. Turn off the electricity and cut water supply to leaking or broken pipes.

Assess everyone’s personal health; if there were any injuries incurred in the storm, now is the time to have them addressed. Don’t put off having a medical professional assess and treat cuts, bruises, or worse, to help prevent infections or a minor injury morphing into a serious condition.

Mental health should also be addressed; experiencing and surviving a storm is a traumatic experience that can leave scars. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help. In the event of devastating damage and destruction, the effort required to rebuild may be too much for some people. There’s no shame in relocating to an area that doesn’t hold painful memories.

Document Everything, Again

The next step is to document the conditions after the storm has passed and it is safe to do so. Wanting to begin the cleanup as soon as possible is understandable, but it is vitally important to not touch anything until the post-storm condition has been fully and comprehensively documented. Being able to prove the extent of damage is a must.

Take photos and video of all damage, no matter how minor. Pay attention: Extreme weather can cause a wide range of damage, including warped floors, damaged rafters or drywall, mold, and harm to personal belongings that might not be readily apparent for days, weeks, or even months afterward. This is another reason to document pre-storm conditions. Taking photos of rafters may seem excessive until there’s reason to believe that they’ve shifted and now threaten the home.

Can You Rebuild?

FEMA’s 50 percent rule says if the cost of improvements or the cost to repair the damage exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building, the building must be brought up to current floodplain management standards. Additionally, some municipalities may require the damaged structure to be brought up to current building codes as well. As a result, it may not be financially feasible to rebuild.

Assume that every aspect of the rebuilding will require permits, from roofs to interior restoration. It’s important to budget time and funds to navigate the process.

Make an Annotated To-Do List

Create a list of all required repairs, from the most minor to major tasks, such as a roof. This list will prove invaluable as repairs are made and can help prevent problems from being forgotten.

A common mistake is to not completely secure a damaged building by using tarps or plywood to help prevent further damage. Another is to do DIY repairs that may not comply with local building codes and could affect insurance claims. It’s understandable to want to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, but taking shortcuts isn’t a good idea in this scenario. Take a breath, go slow, and do it right.

Each item on your list should also include a list of materials needed, or indicate if a contractor must be contacted to make repairs, along with reaching out to local municipalities to ensure that all needed permits are secured. Review insurance policies and contact the company to determine what repairs are covered and if deductibles apply.

Be Wary of Scams

When hiring a contractor or restoration company, it’s important to check credentials, licensing, and insurance, and read reviews left by customers. Resist the urge to hire the first firm interviewed. In the aftermath of a storm, it’s a sad fact that unscrupulous people seek to take advantage of the devastation, performing either shoddy work or simply not coming back after being given a deposit.

While most roofing companies are legitimate, scammers posing as roofing contractors and mold remediation companies pop up like mushrooms after a storm, so be careful when choosing a contractor. Call home offices of out-of-state contractors to confirm their legitimacy, and ask the insurance company for referrals.

Carefully review all credentials, licenses, and insurance policies. If a deal seems too good to be true, it might be wise to pass on it. If possible, arrange for the insurance adjuster and restoration contractor to assess the damage together. Place orders for replacement appliances and construction materials as soon as possible; if the damage covers a widespread area, delays can be expected.

After the storm has passed, the decision to rebuild, or not, is an important one, so consider all aspects carefully before you move forward.