NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Insurance adjusters, catastrophe personnel and mobile claim centers have already been deployed to staging areas along the East Coast and are ready to respond to customers impacted by Hurricane Matthew, according the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Whether reporting damage to your property over the phone or through your mobile device, the I.I.I. offers the following tips on how to file an insurance claim:

1. Contact your insurer as soon as possible to begin the process.  Provide your insurer with your policy number and the best phone number and email address at which to reach you. After a major storm, insurers visit those with the most severe damage first, so prepare to provide an accurate description of the extent of the property damage. Be sure to explain any special needs of your family, particularly if personal circumstances require that you get priority. Ask your insurer when you can expect to be contacted by an insurance adjuster so that you can be prepared for the visit. Since adjusters may be in areas in which cell phone towers are damaged, it is also a good idea to get the phone number of your adjuster’s supervisor so you have an additional contact. If you have a flood insurance claim, contact the agent or broker who sold you the policy to start the claims filing process.
2. Document your loss. The insurance adjuster most likely will inspect the damage to your home, auto and possessions in order to write a check to help you replace, repair and rebuild. It is a good idea to take photographs and document the details of damaged items, including the date of purchase and approximate value—and collect receipts, if you have them. Many companies will ask you to submit an inventory of the items. Having a home inventory will make this process easier—the I.I.I.’s free Know Your Stuff® – Home Inventory app can help you create or update your home inventory, even after a disaster.
3. Check with your insurer before discarding damaged items and materials. You will generally need to show storm damaged items to your adjuster. If, however, you are required by your local municipality to discard them for safety reasons, take photographs to help with the claims process.
4. Sign up for SMS/text alerts. Many insurance companies use SMS/text message alerts that will notify you of the status of your claim. You will receive text messages on your phone when you first report your claim, when your estimate is available and when a payment has been sent.  
5. Know what emergency services are available. In the event you need emergency services, such as removing water from your home, covering your roof, or boarding up windows or doors, many companies will dispatch an approved emergency services company to protect your home from further damage. If your home has sustained severe damage, making it unlivable, your homeowners insurer will provide you with a check for additional living expenses.
6. Keep a claim diary. Good recordkeeping is important when filing a claim. Make a list of everyone you speak to about your claim. Note their name, title and contact information. Also, keep track of the date, time and issues discussed. The better organized you are, the simpler and easier the claims process will be.

A Word About Deductibles
Keep in mind, hurricane deductibles exist in every coastal state from Maine to Texas. Unlike a typical homeowners policy deductible of $500 or $1,000, hurricane deductibles usually are listed as a percentage of the property’s insured value—generally between 1 percent to 5 percent of the total coverage. These separate deductibles are prominently located on your declarations page, and spell out specifically the specific percentage and often the dollar amount. Hurricane deductibles typically are applied to damage caused by named storms that have hit land, as determined by the National Weather Service. In Florida, for example, the deductible would be in effect for any damage incurred during the 72 hours after a hurricane warning is issued. Each insurer and state applies the deductibles differently, however, so it’s crucial for homeowners to be familiar with their policies.

Experts Available for Interviews
To arrange an interview about the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew with a subject matter expert at the I.I.I., contact Jeanne Salvatore at 917-612-4088 or [email protected].

RELATED LINKS
Issues Update: Hurricane and Windstorm Deductibles
Article: Recovering from a Flood
Infographic: How to File a Flood Claim

The I.I.I. has a full library of educational videos on its You Tube Channel. Information about I.I.I. mobile apps can be found here.

THE I.I.I. IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038 (212) 346-5500 www.iii.org

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NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today Verizon announced it has launched a new program aimed at providing multicultural entrepreneurs an opportunity to collaborate with Verizon by opening specialty stores throughout the United States. The specialty stores will deliver a unique experience to both current and future Verizon customers in communities with the most growth potential and provide a turnkey opportunity to aspiring business owners. Verizon will support these budding entrepreneurs through strategic funding, marketing initiatives and strong marketing support. Verizon will make a formal presentation directly to potential business owners during the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Convention (USHCC) National Convention on October 10, 2016; additional presentations will be held throughout the country.

“We are fueling Hispanics’ entrepreneurial spirit with a turnkey business opportunity with a known, trusted brand,” said Walter Rodriguez, Multicultural Marketing Director at Verizon. “Now is the chance for those interested in self-employment to own a business in areas they know well and in their own communities.” 

The launch of these new specialty stores is the direct result of two other recent launches by Verizon: The new Verizon plan and the Bienvenido a lo Mejor campaign, both of which offer customers simple pricing, access to America’s largest and fastest 4G LTE network ever and targeted promotional offers for the Hispanic segment, respectively.

Hispanic-owned businesses continue to grow in comparison to other minority groups and U.S. companies. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are 27.6 million businesses in the United States, with 3.3 million of those being Hispanic-owned. The Hispanic purchasing power was $1.3 trillion in 2015, with a projected reach of $1.7 trillion by 2020. As part of this initiative, Verizon will be hosting a series of informational specialty store presentations and webinars throughout the year. 

“This new multicultural store model offers many benefits to entrepreneurs like my partner and me. It truly is a turnkey approach when you factor in the support Verizon offers with the floor plan, fixture designs and the marketing support,” said Harpreet Katari, co-owner of United Telecom USA Inc., a Verizon Indirect Agent.

To see more of what Verizon is doing follow @Verizon via Twitter or visit www.verizon.com.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York City, has a diverse workforce of nearly 162,700 and generated nearly $132 billion in 2015 revenues. Verizon operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with 113.2 million retail connections nationwide. The company also provides communications and entertainment services over mobile broadband and the nation’s premiere all-fiber network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide.

VERIZON’S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: News releases, feature stories, executive biographies and media contacts are available at Verizon’s online News Center at www.verizon.com/news/. News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/.

Media contacts:
Tamika Rivera
908.559.7210
[email protected] 

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