Lauderdale County cleans up
By Staff
Here are suggestions from Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale about how you should file hurricane insurance claims.
If your property is damaged, contact your insurance agent.
If you have trouble reaching your agent, contact your insurance company or the Mississippi Insurance Department at (800) 562-2957.
The department will locate your company or agent and have an adjuster assigned to your claim. Storm victims should have their insurance company's name and policy number to speed the process.
Keep all receipts for expenses or any damage to your home.
Be careful before you enter any damaged property, and be careful of natural gas, live electrical wires and collapses.
Take pictures of any damage before you make repairs. If possible, make temporary repairs to your property to prevent further losses.
If possible, open the windows and doors to circulate air and remove foul odors to protect you from natural gas and to dry your house.
Hire a licensed contractor for repair work. Call the Mississippi State Board of Contractors at (800) 880-6161 or visit its Web site at www.msboc.state.ms.us to see if a contractor is properly licensed.
If you suspect price-gouging, contact local law enforcement or the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Division, at (800) 281-4418.
Here's what residents and business owners should do to apply for federal disaster assistance in the wake of Hurricane Ivan.
Who should call: If you had any damage, apply; sometimes you are eligible even if you think you don't qualify.
What number to dial: Call the Federal Emergency
Management Agency at (800) 621-3362; the number will open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
How long it will take: The call could last up to 30 minutes, so call when you have time.
What you should record: At the end of the call, you will get a registration number. Write it down and keep it for future reference.
What information you need for the call: You must provide several pieces of information.
The date Ivan hit, which was Sept. 16 and 17.
Your Social Security number.
The address of affected property.
Your gross income.
Your insurance information on affected property.
Source: City of Meridian
