State Farm Newsroom

Press Releases

Before the Storm Hits, Know Your Policy

AUSTIN, Texas (April 12, 2011) —Every spring, hail storms wreak havoc in Texas. In fact, the state of Texas has exposure to nine different types of natural disasters - the most among any state in the country. The recent hail storms and wildfires that have affected large areas of the state are grim reminders of the severity of weather in the Lone Star State.

After every storm strikes, the questions start rolling in starting with "I wonder if my insurance covers that…." Part of your disaster preparation should include reviewing your insurance policies and double checking your coverage. Call your agent to review your policy in depth.

Here are some things to think about as you look over your policy:

• Have you made any upgrades to your home or added buildings to your property?
  • Making sure you have adequate - and enough - coverage is important.
• Have you removed any outbuildings from your home?
• You may be able to save money by cancelling coverage you no longer need.
• Do you have personal property that needs its own insurance?
• Personal property such as boats, stamp collections, firearms, computers, expensive jewelry, artwork, etc., could qualify for a separate policy and eliminate potential gaps in your coverage.
• Can you list all of the possessions in your home?
• Keep a running inventory list: receipts, manuals, photographs, and/or video recordings of personal property in the household, and store these items in a fireproof safe or a safety deposit box. Having an inventory will make your claims process easier and move more efficiently.
• Are you covered for water damage?
• Some water damage is covered in your policy but it is limited. Ground water is typically excluded by a homeowner’s policy, but may be covered by a flood policy. Water that enters a home through a sewer, drain, or sump pump is excluded; however this coverage may be added to the homeowner’s policy for additional premium.

If disaster strikes this spring or summer, here are some tips on what to do:

• Report the claim to your agent or 1-800-SFCLAIM
• If it is safe to do so, make any temporary repairs to prevent further damage
• Keep receipts and take pictures to give to your claim representative

Contact

Patti Kelly, State Farm Insurance at (512) 918-5565.

About State Farm®

State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,700 agents and 68,600 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 78.7 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 34 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.