Your Insurance Policy in the Wake of Sandy

Amber Ceffalio -

Governor Cuomo announced that hurricane deductibles will not apply to damages incurred by Hurricane Sandy. Insurers, for their parts, are calling the event Super Storm Sandy because hurricane force winds were not occurring when Sandy hit land. Allison McMann with Allstate said that following standard policies, tropical storms are covered by many insurance policies. Good news for many insurance policy holders.

What do you do if you have a tree through your roof?

The Insurance Information Institute is a nonprofit organization supported by insurance companies that gets out insurance related information to everyone. Their website has useful links like how to file a claim and what may or may not be included in your policy. Also check out what you should and should not do before an insurance adjustor evaluates your damage.

Allstate, for their part, isn’t waiting for people to come to them. They have set up mobile units in impacted areas and will have one set up in Staten Island by tomorrow. They have agents driving out to Breezy Point. McMann, though, is cautions against fraud. Their twitter feed is updated often with accounts of attempted fraud.

Governor Cuomo has activated the Disaster Hotline.

DFS has activated a Disaster Hotline to answer consumer questions and help with problems. The Disaster Hotline number is 800-339-1759. It is staffed Monday – Friday from 8 AM – 8 PM and Saturday – Sunday from 9 AM – 4 PM.

Your insurance policy should have a local number you can contact. If your local office has been impacted, we compiled a list of popular insurance companies and contact numbers.

  • Allstate local storm number: 1-800-54-STORM
  • State Farm Claim Number: 1-800-SFClaim
  • New York Life: 1-800-695-4331
  • Nationwide: 800-421-3535
  • Guardian New York Headquarters are temporarily closed, thanks to Super Storm Sandy.  They can still be contacted at: 888-GUARDIAN

If you have a problem with your insurance company, disputes can be resolved by the Department of Finance at this link.

Share you experiences with insurance companies in the comments below.

Photo: Nancy Beranbaum