What to do if Middle TN tornadoes damaged home, business or vehicle

Todd A. Price and Cassandra Stephenson, Nashville Tennessean
·3 min read

Was your home, vehicle or business damaged over the weekend by Middle Tennessee tornadoes? It is important to take steps as soon as possible to document your losses and file claims for assistance and insurance.

The storms left damage in more than a dozen counties across Middle Tennessee, causing extensive property damage. Six people died in Clarksville and Madison, and more than 80 patients were admitted to area hospitals.

Here are suggestions from the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance on how to recover from this disaster.

An aerial view of a Clarksville, Tenn., neighborhood from a Blackhawk helicopter on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 after a series of tornadoes swept through Tennessee the day prior, leaving thousands of homes damaged and at least 6 people killed.
An aerial view of a Clarksville, Tenn., neighborhood from a Blackhawk helicopter on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 after a series of tornadoes swept through Tennessee the day prior, leaving thousands of homes damaged and at least 6 people killed.

File an insurance claim

Call your insurance agent or insurance company as soon as possible. Your policy may require that claims be filed within a certain period. If you don’t have a copy of your policy, ask the company for one and confirm what damage is covered.

Keep detailed notes. Log all calls with insurance companies, creditors or relief organizations. Note who you spoke with, when the call occurred and what was discussed.

Take pictures. Document damage with photos and videos. If you have to make immediate repairs to secure a building or vehicle, take pictures before and after the work, and keep any receipts. Keep damaged personal property so an adjuster can inspect it.

Check for federal assistance. If a federal disaster is declared, extra assistance may be available from FEMA for damages not covered by insurance. Applications for relief can be made at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling (800) 621-3362. Note that applications for government relief are free.

Deal with bills

Call utility companies. If damage made your home uninhabitable, utilities can be shut off to save money.

Check with creditors. Payments must continue on damaged homes, buildings or vehicles, but lenders may be willing to postpone payments. Other lenders, such as credit card companies, may also offer relief to customers affected by a disaster.

Check your student loans. If a federal disaster is declared, people in the affected area may qualify for up to 90 days of forbearance on federal loans.

Don’t get scammed

Know who you’re hiring. After a disaster, dishonest contractors can take advantage of victims. Check references. Make sure the contractor is licensed in Tennessee. Ask for estimates and all promises in writing. And in most situations, do not pay more than 1/3 of the cost upfront.

Watch your credit. If you made an arrangement with creditors to postpone payments, check your credit report to make sure it was not misreported as a missed payment.

Be wary of price gougers. Look for sudden, dramatic increases in the price of essential goods such as food, fuel, and lodging right before, during, or after a natural disaster. Complaints about price gouging can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs at tn.gov/consumer.

Beware "limited time," too-good-to-be-true offers. Don’t be pressured to make a decision on the spot or to sign anything without having enough time to review it. When searching for homes to rent, if the offer sounds too good to be true or the property owner can’t show you the property beforehand, it’s a bad sign.

For more information visit the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance at www.tn.gov/commerce/disasters and Consumer Financial Protections Bureau at cfpb.gov.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How to file insurance claims for Middle Tennessee tornado damage