Storm Insurance Claims and Recovery Resources

August 6, 2020

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and recovering from the storm. Now is a very challenging time, especially as many continue to have no power at home and have been told it could take multiple days to restore. The following contains information I hope will be helpful to you and provide answers to some of the questions we all have right now. 

Insurance Claims

If you have suffered damage due to Tropical Storm Isaias these are the steps to take immediately:

  • Take photos of the damage and remove personal property if your home cannot be secured. Do not dispose of property until an insurance adjuster has reviewed it for your claim.
  • If you can still live in the home, talk with your agent about critical repairs that need to be made. Whether you make the repairs or hire someone, save the receipts for your claim.
  • If you need to find other lodging, keep records of expenses and all receipts. Homeowners and renter’s insurance generally provide limited coverage for expenses like: meals, rent, utility installation and transportation.

Reporting Your Claim

  • Most insurance companies have a time requirement for filing a claim. The process will go faster if you can locate a copy of your policy and home inventory.
  • Call the company or visit a mobile claims center to start your claim. If you need help locating your company or agent, contact the Connecticut Insurance Department at 800-203-3447 or use our online contact options.
  • You will be asked to list all items destroyed, damaged or missing. If you do not have a home inventory, begin making a list of items going room by room from memory and include as much detail as possible. Home Inventory checklist
  • If your car is damaged while in your garage/carport, it is covered by your automobile policy—not your homeowners policy. If you are insured by two separate companies for these coverages you must file a claim with both companies.

If you have difficulty reaching your insurer, have a claim dispute or have questions on any insurance-related topic you can reach us by

  • Phone (800)203-3447 or (860)297-3900
  • Or online
  • As a safety measure, the office is currently closed to public visitors

Further tips on filing your storm related claim can be found here.

 

 

Report and Check on the Status of an Outage

 

 

Warning About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Wake of Storm Damage and Power Outages

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is warning residents about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and urges them to take steps to prevent deadly CO poisoning. When power goes out, keep your portable generator outside when using it and at least 20 feet away from the house. Never use them inside of the house, on a porch, in a garage, basement, or shed.  Even if garage doors are open, CO gas can build up to deadly levels within minutes.

Charcoal grills, camping stoves, kerosene lamps and heaters, and other equipment that uses fuel should never be used indoors.  Opening windows does not provide enough ventilation to be protective.

CO is an invisible, odorless gas that can be fatal.  If you breathe in a lot of CO gas, it can make you pass out or kill you. People who are sleeping or drunk can die from CO poisoning before they have symptoms.  CO gas can be dangerous even before the alarm sounds.  If household members suddenly begin feeling symptoms like the flu- headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion, get out of the house, then call 911.

DPH offers the following safety tips to prevent CO poisoning:

  • Get out of the house and seek medical help immediately if you or a family member has unexplained/sudden onset of symptoms of CO poisoning. Symptoms include headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and loss of consciousness.
  • Call 911 from a cell phone or neighbor’s home and the Connecticut Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
  • Never use a portable generator indoors or in the garage or shed. Even if the garage or shed doors are open, CO gas can still build up to dangerous levels within minutes!
  • Place portable generators at least 20-25 feet away from the house. 
  • Use gasoline-powered equipment outside and away from doors, windows or air intake vents.
  • Use grilling apparatus such as charcoal or gas grills outdoors only.
  • Opening windows and doors, and operating fans is NOT sufficient to prevent buildup of CO in a home.
  • Make sure inlets and outlets for your furnace are free of leaves and debris. Some furnaces have exhaust vents that could become blocked, causing ventilation problems. Know what type of exhaust system your furnace has and where the exhaust inlets and outlets are located for your home.

More information on Carbon Monoxide can also be found on the DPH website by clicking here.

 

 

Transportation Issues

Road & Traffic Updates
For updates on road closures and other traffic alerts, please visit: cttravelsmart.org. CT Travel Smart is a traveler information service that gives you free live traffic reports and commuter service information in Connecticut.

Metro North Updates
Monitor new.mta.infowww.mta.info/mnr and Facebook and Twitter for updates.Customers can also use their automated phone system at 511 (in Connecticut call 877-690-5114) or to speak with a representative dial 646-252-1701.

As of August 6, 2020:

  • Metro-North is operating weekend service between Stamford and Grand Central Terminal. Service between Stamford and New Haven continues to be suspended until further notice.
    • On the New Canaan branch, bus service will run on a weekend schedule, but customers can expect delays due to road closures/detours.
    • On the Waterbury branch, busing is being provided on a weekend schedule. No train service will be provided at Bridgeport. Customers can expect delays due to road closures/ detours.
    • On the Danbury branch bus service will be suspended until further notice.

Shoreline East Updates
Shoreline East is anticipating a return to regular service for Thursday, August 6. Passengers are advised to continue to check ShoreLineEast.com, sign up for text/email alerts at ShoreLineEast.com/service-alerts, or follow
@slealerts on twitter.

Hartford Line Updates
The Hartford Line is anticipating a return to regular service for Thursday, August 6. Passengers are advised to continue to check HartfordLine.com, sign up for text/email alerts at HartfordLine.com/service-alerts, or follow
@hlalerts on twitter.

 

 

Food Safety During a Power Outage

View a chart of when to save and when to throw out different types of food depending on their temperature. More guidance below from the CDC:

During an Outage 

  • If refrigerator/freezer doors stay closed, food will stay safe for up to:
    • 4 hours in a refrigerator.
    • 48 hours in a full freezer; 24 hours in a half-full freezer.
  • If the power has been out for 4 hours, and a cooler and ice are available, put refrigerated perishable foods in the cooler. To keep them at 40°F or below, add ice or a cold source like frozen gel packs.

After an Outage

  • Never taste food to determine if it is safe to eat. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Throw out perishable food in your refrigerator (meat, fish, cut fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, and leftovers) after 4 hours without power or a cold source like dry ice. Throw out any food with an unusual odor, color, or texture.
  • Check temperatures of food kept in coolers or your refrigerator with an added cold source. Throw out food above 40°
  • If you have an appliance thermometer in your freezer, check to see if it is still at 40 °F or below.
    • You can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen food that still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below.