Tornadoes are considered standard hazards for disaster coverage on most homeowners, renters and business insurance policies.
SPRINGFIELD – Insurance adjusters converged on Western Massachusetts Thursday following the previous day's devastating tornadoes, but the hard work of sorting out insurance claims could take months.
Insurers said that they have already started cutting checks to customers who need to replace clothing or move to a hotel room. “The goal is to get the process started as quickly as possible,” said Glenn A. Greenberg, spokesperson for Liberty Mutual’s home office in Boston. “We do have people in the field inspecting homes. But we know that those calls have only now just begun to come in. Some of these people don’t have phone service or even cell-phone service.”
Hartford -based The Travelers had 75 claims adjusters in the region Thursday and hoped to have one of its RV-like mobile claims units set up at Lowe’s Home Improvement, 1600 Boston Road in Springfield Friday, said Christopher Nixon, vice president of property claims for the Travelers.
The truck, which is equipped with satellite communications equipment, had been in tornado-ravaged Missouri earlier this week. “We are triaging all the claims as they come in, assessing the immediate need,” Nixon said Thursday afternoon.
“Don’t worry about having your paperwork,” he said. “We can look up your claim with just your name.”
Tornadoes are considered standard hazards for disaster coverage on most homeowners, renters and business insurance, said Jeanne M. Salvatore, spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute in New York City.
With auto insurance, tornado damage falls under the optional comprehensive coverage most drivers carry on their cars, Salvatore said.
She said people should file their claims as quickly as they can and keep detailed records of everyone they talk to at the insurance company and all the damage they suffered. Keep receipts and take photos.
“The more organized you are, the better this process will go,” Salvatore said.
State Insurance Commissioner Joseph G. Murphy also warned people to be on the he lookout for price gouging and unlicensed contractors who often prey on storm victims.
Boston-based Safety Insurance Co. has 15 claims adjusters in the region and another 30 on call, said David M. Krupa, vice president of claims for the Boston-based insurer.
“I’ve been here 28 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.
The Hanover Insurance Group added staff to the call center at its Worcester headquarters, said Mark J. Welzenbach, senior vice president and chief claims officer. Calls started coming in within an our of the tornadoes touching down.
By Thursday, Hanover had 15 property adjusters and 30 auto appraisers in the field, Welzenbach said.