Overnight tornadoes hit Jefferson City, southwest Missouri

It was a devastating night for residents of Missouri, including in the Jefferson City and Joplin areas as severe weather, including several reported tornadoes, ripped through the state.

Teams respond to help customers

American Family Insurance agents and claims teams began working overnight to identify and contact customers affected by the storms and start assessing damage.

While property, auto and commercial claims have come in from across the state, American Family Insurance is seeing a concentration of claims from the Jefferson City and Eldon areas as well as Carl Junction in southwestern Missouri not far from Joplin. More than 200 claims had been reported by mid-day Thursday and that number is expected to rise. 

News reports indicate that possibly more than dozen tornadoes touched down across the state overnight including at least one that passed through Jefferson City.

Report claims immediately 

Customers with damage should report their claims as soon as possible – by phone at 800-MYAMFAM (692-6326), online at amfam.com/claims or through their insurance agent.

The company plans to deploy two catastrophe vehicles to serve as mobile claim offices as quickly as possible. One will be in Jefferson City at the Capital Mall, 3600 Country Club Rd. (between Wendy's and the old Pizza Hut) and the other will be at Forest Park Church, 5898 N. Main St. in Joplin. After they arrive, customers can visit the mobile offices to meet with claim adjusters and file claims in person.

Customers can also file claims for hail damage to their auto and hail or wind damage to their home by texting the word “STORM” to 26326 (AMFAM). Please note that message and data rates may apply. Using this channel may reduce customer wait time and decrease time reporting the claim.

American Family Insurance adjusters and agents will work with customers in Missouri for as long as it takes to get them on the road to recovery.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

What damages to my property might be covered?

Your homeowners insurance policy provides coverage for damage to your home and personal property caused by wind/tornado, hail, fire and smoke.

Can I get an emergency advance payment?

Yes. If you have a covered loss and need emergency funds, we can provide you an advance payment. This advance payment will be applied to your final claim settlement.

Does my policy have coverage for boarding pets?

Yes, your homeowners policy covers the cost of temporarily boarding domestic pets, other than livestock, if civil authorities prohibit access to your home. Keep copies of the receipts for your adjuster.

Can I start to make repairs to prevent further damage?

You should protect your property immediately against further damage and theft. Use plywood, tarps or other materials to cover broken windows and damaged rooftops. Keep the receipts of any materials/services that you purchase to make these repairs so your adjuster can review them and reimburse you for expenses covered by your policy.

Do I have coverage to replace damaged trees or remove tree debris caused by the storm?

Homeowners insurance generally does not cover damage to trees or the removal of tree debris from the property. If a tree has fallen on your home and caused damage, however, we pay to cut away that part of the tree so repairs can be made; most policies pay up to $500 for removing that part of the tree from the property. Check your policy for specific coverage.

The storm caused a neighbor's tree to fall on my house? Whose insurance company should I report my claim to - the neighbor's or mine?

Report the claim to American Family Insurance. Since the cause of damage was an act of nature, your insurance policy applies. If the roles were reversed and a tree from your property fell on your neighbor's home, the neighbor's insurance policy would apply.

How will the inspection process work?

If your home has sustained damage, an adjuster will contact you at one of the phone numbers you provided when you reported your claim. The two of you will schedule an inspection of your home, after which the adjuster will develop an estimate and issue payment for repairs covered by your policy.

Who do I call to make repairs?

You are free to select any contractor (home) or repair shop (auto) you wish. It is usually best to select one who has operated in the area for several years, is insured and bonded and gives you a written guarantee for the work performed.

About American Family Insurance
Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance group is the nation's 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group and ranks No. 306 on the Fortune 500 list. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, primarily through its exclusive agents in 19 states. American Family affiliates (The General and Homesite) also provide options for consumers who want to manage their insurance matters directly over the internet or by phone. Affiliate Main Street America sells insurance products through independent agents. Web www.amfam.com; Facebook www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter www.twitter.com/amfam.