This site is for educational purposes only and should not be considered or relied upon as legal advice or controlling policy.
Even though you have Flood Insurance, you may want to register with FEMA @ www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. They can help with living expenses not covered in your policy.
Welcome to our website. If you are visiting this page, then we have been assigned as the adjusters for your Flood Insurance claim. Our names are Paul and Jaime Thagard and we are both certified flood adjusters. We work with a team of qualified adjusters and have created this site to provide a WEALTH of information that you will need in this claims process. Please review the list below, click on the links (underlined in bullet points), downloading and completing the requested documents as your policy governs.
​
In order to expedite and maximize your flood policy:
​
-
Download and review the FEMA flood handbook by clicking HERE. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. It is good solid information. Please read it thoroughly. The ICC Brochure can be downloaded here.
-
IF you have contents coverage, and have ever taken a picture on your cell phone, we have an app that we make available to our claimants that will expedite your contents losses and quicken the process. It is called The Contents Buddy. If you choose to use it, Mark Pfister will be happy to discuss it with you at length when he calls. It is completely free and is used to help us help you. You may also choose to download and save this Excel Contents Spreadsheet to your computer. If you use this process, you will need this form to create a list of your damaged personal property. However, if you elect this avenue going forward with your contents losses, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT CHANGE THE FORMAT OF THIS SPREADSHEET. Only complete the room section, the quantity, description, age, Make, Model and Serial number as applicable, and Unit Cost (price of replacement of item). If you cannot provide this digitally, please write down as much detailed information about the contents you need to claim with approximate values and ages. If you don't have contents coverage with your policy, you will not need the Contents Buddy app or this form.
-
Information on Steps to Settlement, Getting the Moisture Out of your home, Mold Prevention and Cleaning, Pumping Out Your Basement, and Avoiding Contractor Rip Offs can be found HERE. (We are not affiliated with Jackson Adjustment Co but this is very good information).
​
Please do not hesitate to text or email any of our team members any of your questions or concerns at 251-422-9570 (Paul), 251-422-2372(Jaime), or 702-498-6276(Mark). These methods of contact are best during a disaster such as this.
​
We look forward to helping your family through this most difficult time. Help us help you!
Some additional thoughts and information:
​
Anytime you get a mitigation company such as ServePro, Stanley Steamer, Service Master, etc., have them contact your adjuster!!!! There are important drying logs that must be submitted by the mitigation company in order to get insurance compensation!! If they will not provide these logs, it can be extremely complicated in the long run. Communication between the flood adjuster and the mitigation company will help immensely as we must have cleaning company itemize their estimate and they must maintain drying logs.
​
1) Dwelling/Structure – Take pictures before the cleanup starts. Take pictures of floor covering, wall covering or treatment, built-in bookshelves, desks, cabinets (measure these if you are removing them), differentiate between lower, wall or tall. Also, Your Flood Insurance considers some of your appliances as building coverage, such as the Refrigerator, Stove and Dishwasher. Take pictures and write down make, model and serial numbers of all three. The garbage disposal is forgotten by most people and is also considered an appliance. Take pictures of it and write down serial and model number’s. Doors and trim need to be photographed. Windows. If you have an attached garage or detached garage, shoot pictures of door(s). Do you have a refrigerator there? Work area? Photos please of a tape measure from the floor to the “waterline”. Have someone hold the tape and you shoot the photos showing the entire length of tape. This is something FEMA requires documentation of. Unfortunately, when a mortgage company is involved any payments for structural damages have to have them included as additional payee. So call your mortgage company right away and find out how to more quickly get funds available from the check you receive!
2) Contents/Personal Property -- PHOTOS – Preferably with a removable disk on a digital camera so you can give a copy to your adjuster or through the app called Contents Buddy, which we can provide you a free link as mentioned above. It would take forever to send the photos on your phone to an adjuster. Contents Coverage are considered to be your Personal possessions.
DO NOT THROW ANYTHING AWAY until you have photos of it. If your clothes washer/dryer were inundated, take photos and write down make, model and serial #’s. If you have a bunch of clothes that cannot be salvaged (most can be washed or dry cleaned), take photos of groups of clothes such as men’s shirts, women’s blouses and write down brands. I know this will take more time, but your payment from the flood insurance depends on it. Also try to number each type of clothing, such as 6 women's long sleeve blouses, 10 pairs of women's sandals, 5 pair of men's dress shoes. Pay special attention to the TVs, stereos and try to get make, model and Serial #’s. It is very important to give an approximate price of ALL content items on the excel contents spreadsheet provided to you in the link on the second bullet point at the top of this website.
NOTE: If you do not have content coverage, in a disaster such as this, FEMA can possibly help directly but may require you to have it added to your policy for future floods. See the "DisasterAssistance.gov" photo weblink above in this website.
3) The Flood policy does not cover ALE – Additional Living Expenses, this is apartment, motel, meals, etc.
4) If you loaded your possessions and moved them to a safe place, keep receipts; gas, mileage, trailer rental, etc. This is reimbursable without a deductible.
5) If you had costs associated with Sandbags, keep your receipts and keep up with the labor hours. This is reimbursable WITHOUT a deductible being applied!!!
​