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STATEWIDE -- It looks like Sandy is going to pack a mean punch. Many are anticipating damage that was similar to what happened last year, so having insurance is extremely important. As a homeowner, or someone with renter's insurance, state finance officials offer the following tips:
- Know where your police documents are, and keep them in a safe place.
- Know what your policy covers.
- Be aware that flood insurance does not cover the basement, so remove any valuables that might be down there.
If you're looking to buy flood insurance ahead of Sandy's arrival, you're out of luck this time around. However, given the weather patterns over the last couple of years, it's never too late.
"Typically these kinds of policies have a 60-day waiting period before they go into affect, and they do that so they don't want people, when they see a storm coming, to just but insurance and cancel it once the storm is gone. It would wreak havoc on the way insurance is supposed to operate," said Ben Lawsky, Department of Financial Services Superintendent.
Homeowners who need to file claims for losses under their homeowners’ insurance policies should do so by contacting their insurance agent, company or broker. Individuals who need to resolve disputes with insurers can get help by contacting the Department of Financial Services’ storm hotline at (800) 339-1759.