Severe Weather Awareness Week in Ga.

This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Georgia and the state’s Insurance Commissioner, Ralph Hudgens, wants Georgians to take this week as an opportunity to prepare.

Hudgens has offered a number of insurance tips for homeowners and renters to keep in mind and help protect their property from weather like tornadoes and flooding.

Noting that tornado season is approaching starting next month, Hudgens said now is the time for residents to prepare for any type of severe weather that comes this way.

He said that means taking time now to make a list of all of the valuables, electronics, and furniture in a home and photograph or videotape them as documentation.

“If you have a tragedy like a tornado, it is going to be hard for you to remember,” said Hudgens. “You can do a narrative with it as you are recording. If you have some special piece that has been a family heirloom, you might want to take some time to describe it.”

Hudgens said people also need to understand their policy and know whether it is an actual cash value policy or replacement cost when it comes to a home’s contents.

He said the difference between those two can be large.

On an actual cash value policy, the insurance company only gives a person the depreciated value of a lost item.

Meanwhile, replacement cost policies pay for the full cost to replace an item that is damaged.

Hudgens also advised that homeowners understand their policy and what it will cover and will not cover when it comes to water damage.

“Your homeowners’ policy will cover water damage if it comes through the roof, if a pipe bursts in your hourse, but if a creek rises and the water comes into your house from the outside from the ground level, homeowners’ policies do not cover that,” said Hudgens.

According to Hudgens, flood damage would only be covered by flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

Hudgens also advised to keep insurance policy numbers and contact information for the agent in a safe place that is easy to get to.

Finally, if disaster strikes, Hudgens said to contact the insurance company immediately if there is damage and take necessary steps to protect the property from further damage.