My Home is a Mess -- What do I do now?: 20 Frequently Asked Questions
August 10, 2006
With the flood waters slowly subsiding and residents of the El Paso region assessing damage, many of us have questions about what do next and where to get help. This is your office and these are answers to your questions.
Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org
This is your office and these are answers to your questions. As the City, County, State and Federal government work together to rise up and recover, we will continue to do our best to serve you with the information you need.
¡Juntos Levantamos!
1) How do I get debris removed from my house?
You can call the El Paso Environmental Services Department at (915) 621-6700, which will then pick up debris on a first-come/first-served basis. This is the number to call even if you are within the El Paso county limits but outside of the El Paso city limits. The debris must be reported by August 21 and placed curbside in an accessible area. Please note that only debris from the flood, not rebuilding, can be picked up through this process.
2) Will I get mold in my house?
Unfortunately, a house that has been flooded can provide ideal conditions for the growth of mold. It is advised that, as soon as possible, you remove any standing water from inside your home, dry out your home, and remove any wet materials. FEMA has a step-by-step information sheet detailing how to remove mold from your home: http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/mold.shtm.
3) How do I report property damage?
Any damage, including to homes, buildings, and streets, should be reported to the City of El Paso at (915) 541-4558.
4) Where can I donate supplies?
The Salvation Army is accepting baby formula, diapers, bottled water, non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, blankets, and Aspirin. The supplies may be dropped off at 2111 Wyoming. The Salvation Army may be contacted at (915) 544-9811.
5) Are any shelters still open?
As of Tuesday, August 8, 2006, Canutillo Elementary is the only shelter still open. For current shelter information, call the Red Cross at (915) 592-0208.
6) Where is FEMA?
FEMA has been in El Paso since Sunday in order to assess the damage across the county. They will likely complete their report soon, which will be submitted to President Bush along with damage assessments from local agencies. The President will then determine whether the flood damage is sufficient to warrant a federal disaster designation.
7) If a federal disaster designation is made, how much money can I expect to receive?
According to FEMA, the average FEMA assistance to families in disaster areas is $2,000. If your home is destroyed, the maximum assistance that has been given out is $26,500.
8) If I have homeowners insurance but no flood insurance, will my damages be covered?
Each home is covered by the specific insurance policy which the homeowners purchased. Therefore, it's hard to generalize regarding whether damage to a home will be covered by insurance. Typically, however, homeowners policies to not cover damage from rising water, but do cover damage from falling rain. Further, homeowners policies do not cover damage caused by or resulting from flood, surface water, waves, tidal water or tidal waves, overflow of streams or other bodies of water, or spray from any of these whether or not driven by wind. Please see your specific homeowners policy and contact your insurance company for more information. More frequently asked questions are available at the Texas Department of Insurance website at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/confaq2006.html .
9) Under a homeowners policy, who determines the cause of damage and who pays for an expert if one is needed?
The insurance company usually determines the cause of damage as its adjusters investigate and evaluate the loss. If an expert is required to determine the cause of the loss, the cost is usually borne by the insurance company, but in some cases may be paid by the insured.
10) During the storm, my home was flooded. Does my homeowners policy cover mold damage from the flood water?
Typically, homeowners policies do not cover damage caused by or resulting from flood, surface water, waves, tidal water or tidal waves, overflow of streams or other bodies of water, or spray from any of these whether or not driven by wind. If there is no flood coverage provided in the homeowners policy, any ensuing mold loss resulting from flood would not be covered under the policy.
11) My house got water in it from the flood. I had damage to the roof, the roof is sagging, and rain water came in through the roof. I don't have flood insurance, but I do have homeowner's insurance. What, if anything, may be covered under my homeowner's policy?
If a covered peril such as wind or lightning caused damage to the roof and created an opening, then water damage to your home and personal property resulting from rain water coming through that opening may be covered under the standard homeowners policy.
12) Do I have to hire a public insurance adjuster to file and help in the settlement of my auto or homeowner's insurance claim?
No. Hiring a public insurance adjuster to assist you in filing a property insurance claim is optional. Public insurance adjusters charge fees to help negotiate claim settlements with insurance companies. Be aware that the public insurance adjuster fee is normally a percentage of the claim settlement and therefore is paid out of settlement monies received from an insurer.
13) Are public insurance adjusters required to be licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance?
Yes, a person may not act as a public insurance adjuster in this state or hold himself or herself out to be a public insurance adjuster in this state, unless the person holds a license or certificate issued by the commissioner. You may verify the license status of a public insurance adjuster at http://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/tdi/TdiARManager.
14) Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Only if you carry "Other than Collision" coverage, also called "Comprehensive" coverage, on your policy. This information can be found on your policy's declarations page. If you do not have a copy of your policy, you may wish to check with your agent or company.
15) Since my car was flooded, I had to rent a vehicle. Does my auto policy cover the cost of renting a car?
Your policy will provide coverage for renting another vehicle only if you have an endorsement on your policy for Rental Reimbursement Coverage. Under this coverage, the insurance company will pay up to the limit shown on the endorsement for the reasonable amount of time it takes to repair or replace your vehicle.
16) What determines if a flooded vehicle should be totaled?
It is determined the same as any other loss. Normally, when the cost of repair plus the salvage value equals or exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle prior to the loss, it will be considered a total loss.
17) The insurance company requested that I tow my flooded vehicle to a specific location for inspection. Am I responsible for the towing charges?
No. The insurance company should pay the towing expense by reimbursing you or paying the tow truck operator once the vehicle is delivered at the inspection site. You should not be responsible for the expense since you are assisting the insurance company in a prompt inspection of your vehicle, as well as protecting it from further damage.
18) The insurance company agreed to repair my vehicle. Can the company require the use of used parts?
In some cases, used parts and after market parts may be permissible, depending on the age, condition, and mileage of the particular vehicle. Most Texas personal automobile policies require the insurance company to pay the lesser of the following: actual cash value of the property; the amount to repair or replace the property with other of like, kind, and quality; or the amount stated in the declarations page of the policy.
19) Who can I talk with about insurance coverage?
The Texas Department of Insurance consumer helpline is 1-800-252-3439. They can be reached online at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us.
20) Who can I call if I believe a crooked building contractor or unlicensed public insurance adjuster is trying to scam me?
If you suspect fraud, please call the Texas Department of Insurance's Fraud Hot Line at 1-888-327-8818.