The claim after the storm

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nathan Clark
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. - --  
It is important to be prepared for tornados and other potential damaging storms and that includes what to do in the aftermath.

When residents on base have property damage due to tornados or other severe storms, following the proper steps can ease the stress of dealing with insurance claims.

"Being prepared is key," said Earl Johnson, community manager for Balfour Beatty Communities. "Safety is number one, but being prepared along with knowing all the steps of what to do after a tornado will help in the long run."

Making a list of your property can help alleviate the stress of recovering after a storm, said Johnson. "Whether you live on or off base, you should make an inventory of your possessions."

Johnson also said people can take it a step further by taking photo or video records of assets, as well as keeping receipts of large purchases and writing serial numbers down. This helps with processing damage claims, and can be useful in the event of theft.

"For residents living in base housing, the first step to file a claim is filling out the preliminary worksheet to list the items. The most important thing is to report the damage within 24 hours if possible," Johnson said. "Once that is done, we send that up to our corporate office and they will contact the resident and handle it from there."
When filing a claim with Balfour Beatty, there is a $250 deductible per claim and an insurance agent will assess the damage to determine reimbursement, Johnson said.

"When in doubt, report it," said Johnson. "It's an easy process, so report it as soon as possible."

For those living in the dorms, residents can make claims for natural disaster damage with the Air Force Claims Service Center, said U.S. Air Force Capt. Morgan Christie, 97th Air Mobility Wing chief of civil law.

Claims can be filed directly with the AFCSC online or by calling, said Christie. For those who need help, you can drop by the legal office and we'll assist you through that.

To provide proof of damage to property, take photographs from as many different angles as possible, showing depth, size and extent of damage, Christie said.

Although it is best to report damage as soon as possible, the AFCSC allows up to two years from the time of the incident to file a claim.

With the storm season upon us, now is the time to prepare for the possibilities of damage to property. Taking the right steps now will save a headache later.

For more information, visit http://www.altus.af.mil/inclementweathersafety.asp .

To file a claim with AFCSC online, go to https://claims.jag.af.mil or call 1-8778754-1212 .