Tips for Post Harvey Recovery
In December of 2024, Dwellworks proudly acquired CORT's Destination Services business, expanding our commitment to delivering industry-leading relocation solutions. Read the full press release here. To ensure a seamless transition, we are making the materials previously available on the CORT Destination Services website accessible as valuable resources for our clients and partners.
For more information on Dwellworks Destination Services, please click here.
1. Make a record of any damage – both photos and video. Take photos and/or of all your flood damage now before the water drains away. You will need these photos for insurance and FEMA claims. Establish how high the water was inside and outside of your house. You need to prove how deep the water was as part of your flood claim. Use a yardstick or ruler on the outside of your house to establish the high water mark.
2. Make your insurance claim immediately. The rules around compensation change on Sept 1st so get your claim in right away. You can update it if you find more damage later – don’t wait! Your own insurance policy may not pay out but FEMA will ask you if you have claimed or attempted to claim with your own insurance providers when assessing your application. Make sure you get claim numbers from your insurance providers by September 1st. Save ALL receipts.
3. Can I claim from FEMA ? Both homeowners and renters are eligible for aid through FEMA. You can apply online for federal disaster assistance or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). You can also apply via smartphone or tablet: Go to m.fema.gov or download the FEMA app. You may be eligible for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, or other urgent support, depending on your situation. Be ready to provide at least one family member’s Social Security number and have an estimate of your family's gross household income before any loss of earnings/jobs caused by the disaster.
4. Beware of scams and people knocking on your door offering to fix roof damage and other repair services. After hurricanes and floods, there are always some people looking to profit from other’s misfortune. Beware of anyone coming door to door soliciting work. Chances are these are opportunists looking to take advantage of needy flood victims. Warn your neighbors and friends! Get three detailed quotes for your projects (in writing only) and be very wary of surprisingly low estimates.
The written estimate should include:
- price – final total including tax and any other extras
- full scope of work to be done
- who will do the work
- the deadline for completion.
Verify your contractor online and via social media by searching by name & company. Check reviews especially on websites like the Better Business Bureau. Ask for references from other customers they've done work for and proof of insurance and any relevant licenses. Never pay in full or half upfront. A reputable contractor will not require a down payment over 10 to 25 percent of the total. Don’t be taken in by sob stories! Pay by credit card if possible to help you be able to dispute the charge later if the work doesn't get done or is substandard.
5. Replacing your car. Beware if you plan to buy a used car. It can be very hard to verify if a car has been flooded out and rehabbed for sale. Make sure you check CARFAX - https://www.carfax.com/vehicle-history-reports/ or VIN check - http://www.dmv.org/vehicle-history.php . Early reports say more than half the cars which flooded will be sold without a clear declaration of their history.
Continued Safety: As always, safety must remain paramount.
These links will help you check the conditions in your local area before venturing out: Road Closures, Flood Zone Information, Community Information
About Dwellworks
Dwellworks is the world’s largest provider of destination-related services and temporary living solutions for the globally mobile workforce and business travelers. We provide business-to-business solutions for Fortune 1000 and emerging companies directly and through their relocation management partners. Whether a company needs to relocate its employees across the country or around the world, we provide a range of support services to help employees and their families transition successfully from their home location to a new destination.
Dwellworks supports the diversity of our clients’ globally mobile workforce with personalized destination solutions in 16 countries, covering hundreds of major relocation markets. Dwellworks Living, our global furnished temporary living solution, offers corporate housing accommodations for relocation and business travel customers in 125 countries. Our full-service real estate brokerage, Station Cities, supports home rentals, sales, and purchases in the Tri-State New York area and Chicago. Visit our homepage, learn about our services, and read our blogs to learn how we can help with your relocation and business travel needs.