Should Tropical Storm Hanna strike South Carolina's coast. As of this morning, most insurance companies and agents have stopped binding coverage for homeowners' insurance along the South Carolina coastal areas impacted by the hurricane watch.
Consumers can still purchase wind and hail insurance as well as flood insurance, but wind and hail insurance has a fifteen-day waiting period. Flood insurance carries a thirty-day waiting period. "It's too late to get insurance coverage in place prior to Hanna arriving in South Carolina. However, this can be a wake-up call to review your insurance and consider purchasing additional coverage for future storms such as Hurricane Ike," said Allison Dean Love, Executive Director of the South Carolina Insurance News Service.
The South Carolina Insurance News Service offers these tips for residents before and after the storm: * Locate insurance policies, name and telephone number of insurance agent and take this information with you. * Take a home inventory. This can be as simple as making a list of personal belongings, taking pictures or using a video camera to document your property. Free home inventory software is available on our website.
* Protect property before the storm by covering windows and glass doors with plywood. Secure outdoor furniture.
* If damage occurs, protect property from additional damage by covering the roof and windows as soon as possible.
* Survey any damages before contacting insurance agent or company.
* Survey the damage and notify your insurance agent or company of any losses and leave word where you can be contacted if you are not at home.
* Make any temporary repairs necessary to protect property from further damage. Keep all receipts for material used.
* Do not dispose of damaged personal property until an adjuster has had the opportunity to look at it.
* Photographs or video tape documentation of damaged property is helpful.
* If flooding has occurred, you should disconnect all electronic equipment and electrical appliances and move them to a dry place.
* For more information on settling insurance claims after a disaster, take a look at our web site at www.scinsnews.com or contact the South Carolina Insurance News Service at 803-252-3455. Note to Media: The South Carolina Insurance News Service will provide you with the latest insurance information available including:
* Toll-free insurance company customer claim numbers (see below)
* Individual insurance company and adjuster contacts for interviews and "ride-alongs" with reporters
* Damage estimates
* Insurance industry response teams Insurance Claims Phone Numbers To facilitate timely processing of claims arising from Tropical Storm/Hurricane Hanna, the South Carolina Insurance News Service is providing the following list of contact phone numbers for home insurers:
AequiCap Insurance Company: 954-493-6565
Allstate Insurance: 1-800-54-STORM (1-800-547-8676)
Builders Mutual Insurance Company: 1-800-809-4861
Companion Property & Casualty Insurance: 1-800-845-2724, option 2 fax: 803-419-8063
GEICO: 1-800-841-3000
General Casualty Insurance Company: 1-800-334-0241
GMAC Insurance: 1-800-468-3466
Grange Insurance: 1-800-445-3030
Harleysville Insurance: 1-800-892-8877
Johnson & Johnson Inc.: 1-800-487-7565 Ext. 3029
Nationwide Insurance: 1-800-421-3535
Progressive Insurance: 1-800-274-4499 PURE
Homeowners Insurance: 1-888-813-PURE (7873) fax: 914-328-3883 e-mail: claims@purehnw.com
SC Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.: 1-800-799-7500
SC Wind & Hail Underwriting Association: 1-800-236-1873
Catawba Insurance Co.: 1-800-525-8835
The Seibels Bruce Group, Inc. Southern Mutual Insurance Company: 1-800-226-1919
Southern Mutual Church Insurance: 1-800-922-5332
State Farm: Contact your agent or 1-800-SF-CLAIM
State Auto Insurance: 1-800-766-1853 e-mail: claims@stateauto.com
USAA: 1-800-531-8222
Universal Insurance Holdings of North America: 866-999-0898
Utica National Insurance Group: 1-800-274-1914 ext. 2772 fax: 315-266-4121
