A home with storm water in the rooms
For a house, the record covers the rooms, the ceilings, the floors and any personal property that was wet. Photographs show the water line on the walls, and the list covers the items that were soaked or damaged.
Serving Lauderdale County
Storm Claim Documentation in Meridian
Dated photographs, a damaged-items list and drying readings for a storm water claim in Meridian.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Storm, wind and flood water
- Scope explained before work starts
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Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
Claim Records
Storm Claim Documentation: what it covers
Quick answer
Storm claim documentation is the dated record of storm water damage that a homeowner or business keeps before cleanup: photographs, a list of damaged items and the moisture readings from drying. In Meridian, the crew provides the photographs and readings as part of the job. How a claim is handled is decided by the policy and the insurer, and the crew cannot promise an outcome.
After a storm, the damage is changing from hour to hour. Water spreads, materials swell and the evidence of what happened, such as a fallen limb, a torn panel or a stain line, can be moved or cleaned away. A dated record made at the start is the most useful thing a homeowner or business can keep, because it shows the condition of the property before the cleanup began.
Insurance claims are decided by the policy and the insurer, not by the cleanup crew. What the crew can do is keep a clear and accurate record of what it saw and what it did. Photographs, a list of damaged items and moisture readings taken at set points are the core of that record, and each one is dated.
If you have storm water damage and want the record started, call (833) 490-5225 and say so. Ask the technician to photograph the damage and list the items before anything is moved, and to take the first readings before the drying begins.
- Service area
- Meridian & Lauderdale County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7
- Phone
- (833) 490-5225
Warning signs
Signs you need storm claim documentation
Do not enter a damaged building to photograph it if the structure is unsafe, and do not climb onto a roof for a better view. Stay out of standing water near electrical outlets while taking photographs. Do not remove storm debris or wet materials before the photographs are taken, unless it is needed for safety, and note what was moved and why.
- A storm has passed and the building or contents show new water damage
- Wet items that will be moved, thrown away or cleaned soon
- Damage that is still changing, such as spreading stains or swelling
- A need to show the state of the property at a certain time
- Storm debris that will be cleared before anyone else sees it
- A repair that is about to start and will cover the evidence
- Papers or receipts for items damaged in the storm that have not been gathered
Our process
How our storm claim documentation visit works
Photograph the damage before anything moves
The first photographs are taken from a few steps back to show the room and the storm path, and then close up to show the specific damage. Each photograph is dated and the spot it was taken from is noted, so the set can be compared later.
List the damaged items and the building parts
Each damaged item is listed with its location, what it is and what the damage looks like. Building parts such as the ceiling, the floor and the wall are listed in the same way, with their size and the readings taken on them.
Take moisture readings at set points
Readings are taken at the same points at the start, during and at the end of drying. The points are marked on a simple plan so the figures can be compared over time and matched to the photographs.
Record the cleanup steps as they happen
The crew writes down each step it takes: the water removed, the materials taken out, the equipment set and the date. A written record of the cleanup shows what was done and why.
Hand over the file and keep the originals
The photographs, list, readings and written steps are given to the homeowner or business in one file. The originals with their dates are kept, so the record can be shown to an adjuster or a repair crew without relying on memory.
What photographs should a homeowner take after a storm?
Take wide shots of each room, close shots of each damaged item or surface, and shots that show the water line or stain height. Date each one and note where you stood. Take photographs before anything is moved or cleaned.
A wide shot from the doorway shows how the room looks and how the water spread. Close shots of the ceiling stain, the wet wall and the damaged item show the detail that a reader of the record needs.
Keep the photographs in their original form on the device or camera where they were taken. Copies can lose the date, and a dated original is the record that is easiest to rely on.
How should damaged items be listed?
List each item with its room, what it is, its age if you know it, its condition and a note of the damage. Keep receipts or photographs of the item where you have them. The list should be made with the damaged items in place, before they are moved.
A list that says what was in the room and what is left after the storm is easier to check than a list written from memory. Group items by room so the record follows the house.
Where an item is clearly beyond repair, note that and keep it until the adjuster or the crew has seen it. Do not throw items away before the record is complete.
What do the moisture readings add to the record?
Moisture readings show the water that is held in the building and how it changes as the drying goes on. They give a measured record of the condition, which a photograph cannot show alone, and they show when the building reached a dry state.
Readings are taken at the same marked points each time. The figures show how wet the material was at the start, how it fell during drying and what it read when it was dry. Those figures tie the photographs to the cleanup.
The readings are written in the file with their dates and the points they were taken at. A technician who reads the file later can see what was measured and when.
What does the crew's record cover, and what does it not cover?
The crew's record covers the water work: the photographs it takes, the items and parts it lists, the readings and the steps it takes. It does not cover the policy, the value of items or the decision any insurer makes about the claim.
The crew does not assess the value of contents or decide what is covered. Values and proof of ownership are the homeowner's or business's records, and the crew can list the items for them.
Coverage and the amount paid are decided by the policy and the insurer. The record helps the homeowner show what happened and what was done, but no crew can say how a claim will be settled.
Why should the record be kept before repairs begin?
Repairs cover evidence and remove material that could show the damage. A record made before the repair starts is the clearest way to show the state of the building at the time of the storm.
Once a wall is closed or a floor is replaced, the damage it hid is no longer visible. Photographs and readings taken before that point keep the evidence in the file.
Ask the repair crews to pause where needed so the record can be completed. Keep the file in one place, and show it to whoever is assessing the claim.
Options
Types and options for storm claim documentation
A business with storm stock and fixtures
For a business, the record covers the stock, shelving, fixtures and the space itself. A stock list with the value of each line, as recorded by the owner, is kept with the photographs and the readings.
A roof or wall opening from a storm
For an opening, the record shows the damage from outside and inside. Photographs of the opening, the storm debris and the water path are taken, with the time and the weather noted, before the cover goes on.
Lauderdale County
Why storm claim documentation is different in Meridian and Lauderdale County
Storms in Lauderdale County have damaged homes and businesses in several recent years, including the April 2018 tornado in the Meridian area and the May 2021 storms that were mostly straight-line wind. A dated record made at the time of each storm is useful whichever kind of wind did the damage.
A storm record in Meridian often has to cover water that arrived through several routes at once: a roof opening, a wall, a door and the ground. The crew notes each route so the record shows how the water reached each room.
Records made while the power is out or the roads are blocked may take longer to complete. Start the record as early as it is safe, then add to it as the crew arrives and the drying goes on.
Still stuck? We pick up 24/7.
If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent storm claim documentation, send the form and we'll call you back.
Where we work
Storm Claim Documentation across Lauderdale County
- Claim Records in Meridian
- Claim Records in Marion
- Claim Records in Bailey
- Claim Records in Daleville
- Claim Records in Toomsuba
- Claim Records in Lauderdale
- Claim Records in Collinsville
- Claim Records in Chunky
- Claim Records in Porterville
- Claim Records in Stonewall
- Claim Records in Little Rock
- Claim Records in Enterprise
- Claim Records in Hickory
- Claim Records in De Kalb
- Claim Records in Quitman
- Claim Records in Decatur
- Claim Records in Rose Hill
- Claim Records in Pachuta
- Claim Records in Union
- Claim Records in Newton
- Claim Records in Scooba
- Claim Records in Shubuta
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Storm Roof Leak Water Removal
Water removed from attics and ceilings after a storm leaks through a roof in Meridian.
Storm-Opened Building Water Entry
Covering a storm-opened roof or wall and drying what the rain reached in Meridian.
Commercial Storm Water Restoration
Water extraction and drying for businesses in Meridian that take in storm or pipe water and need to reopen.
Tornado Wind Damage Cleanup
Water removal and drying after tornado wind opens a roof, wall or window in Meridian and Lauderdale County.
Guides
Read before you book
After Tornado or Wind Damage: The First Steps in Order
After tornado or wind damage, check that the building and the people in it are safe, photograph the damage before anything moves, cover any opening in the roof or walls, and then remove the water.
Water Damage Insurance Claims in Mississippi: How They Move and Where to Complain
A water damage claim in Mississippi is decided by your policy and your insurer.
Roof Leak After a Storm: What to Document Before the Repair
A roof leak after a storm should be documented before the roof is repaired or the ceiling is closed.
Hiring a Water Damage Company in Mississippi: What to Ask and Get in Writing
Before a water damage crew starts in Mississippi, ask who will do the work, what the scope and price include, what readings will show the job is finished and which registrations apply to the work.
FAQ
Storm Claim Documentation FAQs
Do I have to take photographs before the crew arrives?
Take what you can safely, as soon as possible. The crew will photograph and list the damage on arrival, and the two sets together make the record stronger. Do not delay the water removal to take photographs.
Will the crew tell my insurer what happened?
The crew provides the record to you, and you decide who receives it. Your policy and your insurer set what they need. Ask the technician for the file and give it to whoever is handling your claim.
Can you tell me what my policy covers?
No. The crew does not know the terms of your policy and cannot say what it covers. Read the policy, ask your insurer, and keep the record of the storm damage ready for the claim process.
What if I threw away wet items before taking photographs?
Tell the technician what was removed, when and why. Keep any receipts, images or descriptions you have of the items. A clear note of what was discarded is better than leaving it out of the record.
How long should I keep the record?
Keep the record for as long as the claim and the repairs are open, and keep the originals with their dates. How long any insurer or record rule asks you to keep material is set by your policy and the rules that apply to it. Ask your insurer which records it needs.
Can I get the readings and photographs in a file I can email?
Yes. The crew provides the photographs, the list, the readings and the written steps in one file. Ask for the originals as well as any copies, and keep the dates intact in both.